Why Clinical Research?
For many patients, access to clinical research at cancer centers such as Comprehensive Cancer Centers, means having the chance to get treatment that’s more advanced than other options that are widely available. Given that these therapies are new, and still in the process of gaining full Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, some people may be reluctant to get these treatments. However, we want to outline the benefits of participating in clinical research and what impact you could make on the future of cancer care.
To better understand why someone would want to be part of clinical research, it’s best to begin by detailing what these treatments are, why they’re offered, as well as their unique benefits. This is an important review process, especially for people who are evaluating whether or not to become part of clinical research as another option for treatment of more aggressive cancers.
Clinical research, or clinical trials as they are also known as, are studies that involve patients and test new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, or treat cancer and other diseases by giving them access to drugs that are still working their way through the FDA’s review process. All advancements in cancer treatment have come through research and have followed the same process as any standard of care drugs that patients are receiving for treatment.
Why Is Clinical Research an Important Option for Cancer Patients?
Clinical research is a critical component in expanding the treatment options for people with all types of cancer, and in particular cancers that might not be responding to current treatment options. Cancer research studies are experimental treatments, or combinations of treatments, and they offer specific advantages for their cancer type offered to patients who are eligible.
According to the National Cancer Institute, clinical research studies help physicians find new ways to improve cancer care and the overall health and well-being of a patient. In each of these studies, the goal is to answer scientific questions and to find better ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat cancer. While a patient is on a clinical trial, doctors and researchers closely monitor them throughout the entire treatment process to determine if the new drug or treatment is safe and works better than what is currently available to cancer patients.
Getting a new drug or therapy approved for commercial use is a long process. There are many different factors and moving parts that make this process so lengthy. For example, each new possible treatment must go through a series of trial phases before being submitted to the FDA for approval and ultimately eligible for commercial sale. Taking part in clinical research studies can give patients quicker access to therapies, which could potentially be more effective than the standard treatments currently available.
Clinical Research Offers Closer Monitoring & Testing
Participating in a clinical research includes extra attention from a dedicated team that is specifically assigned to a patient’s case. When testing a new drug or treatment, it is important to carefully monitor any potential side effects. This extra testing and attention to detail can benefit both patients and researchers. It is important to note that if at any point patients experience negative side effects, or merely decided they no longer wish to be part of the research effort, they can stop the therapy at any time.
Clinical Research Provides Valuable Information That Help Others
Through participating in clinical research, doctors and cancer researchers learn more about what does and doesn’t work to treat cancer. Clinical trials for cancer patients are the best way to learn which treatments are successful and which need more improvement. In addition to possibly finding better or more effective treatments, the information collected during your trial participation provides valuable information about cancer. This information helps researchers better understand different cancer types and can possibly help to save lives in the future.
For anyone looking for a second opinion for their cancer care, clinical research at Comprehensive Cancer Centers. A list of active research options can be found here.
Clinical Research Options at Comprehensive Cancer
Comprehensive Cancer Centers provides world-class care to patients using the highest standards, newest technologies and latest in clinical research. The practice’s robust clinical research program brings groundbreaking clinical research studies to Southern Nevada, including participation in more than 170 Phase I, Phase II and Phase III clinical research studies each year and we are proud to have contributed to the development of more than 100 FDA approved cancer therapies.
To schedule an appointment with a physician at Comprehensive Cancer Centers to see if your cancer treatment may benefit from clinical research, call 702-952-3350.
The content is this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
