What are clinical trials?
Clinical trials are medical research studies that test the safety and effectiveness of promising approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. A commonly known type of clinical trial is an “interventional” trial, which means treatment therapies are given to patients in the trial.
When you are diagnosed with lung cancer, you and your doctor should discuss whether or not an interventional clinical trial is a good option for you. If you are interested in taking part in a clinical trial and your doctor has not discussed this with you, be sure to ask if opportunities are available.
Represent Yourself: Improving Access to Cancer Clinical Trials
Watch this hour-long educational webinar on improving access to lung cancer clinical trials, which includes three patients’ experiences as well as information about finding clinical trials.
Want to learn more about clinical trials?
A comprehensive guide is available at this link, or you can check out our quick guide.
Why are clinical trials important for lung cancer patients?
Participating in a clinical trial may enable patients to access the newest lung cancer treatments before they are widely available. Patients in clinical trials also receive high-quality care, while helping researchers improve care for current and future cancer patients.
Clinical trials that test cancer treatments might involve the use of drugs, radiation therapy, surgery or other treatment methods. Treatments are only brought to clinical trials after significant prior research shows they have promise. These trials are carefully conducted by doctors and trained teams to ensure that patients receive the best possible treatment and care.
Clinical trials are a critical step in the process of getting new treatment options approved for care. By participating in a clinical trial, you’ll be helping researchers and doctors make lifesaving treatments available to more people like you.
Can I talk to someone who has been through a clinical trial?
To talk with someone who has been through a clinical trial, call the Cancer Hope Network at (800) 552-4366 to get matched with a lung cancer survivor.
How can I find the right trial for me?
Beginning your search for a clinical trial can seem like a difficult task, but we’re making it much easier! LCRF has partnered with Carebox to provide patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals an easy way to search and match to lung cancer clinical trials.
Fill out a short questionnaire to identify clinical trials looking for your specific diagnosis, stage, and treatment history.
You can also learn more through these resources: