The idea of a clinical trial can be daunting. The truth, though, is that clinical trials provide the possibility of getting cutting edge treatment for your cancer.
Clinical trials are particularly important when standard treatment is not working or when tumors have metastasized or spread to other organs. These trials offer access to new drugs that target specific markers of a tumor. Other trials offer old drugs in different combinations. Often, only people with certain kinds of tumors will be able to be in a clinical trial.
Read More Colorectal surgeon Dr. Heather Yeo, a medical advisor to SurvivorNet, tells us while clinical trials can be fantastic opportunities to get specialized treatment, you can always choose to decline if you prefer not to participate. If you're offered participation, the risks and benefits of the particular medication will be explained to you in detail and you may have to go to additional check-ups while you are receiving the medication to make sure everything is okay.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Heather Yeo is a medical advisor to SurvivorNet. She is board-certified in general surgery, colon and rectal surgery, and complex general surgical oncology. She is an assistant professor of Surgery and Healthcare Policy and Research at Weill Cornell Medical College and assistant attending surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Read More