If you would like to know more about whether there is a cancer trial suitable for you, you can talk to your doctor and/or the cancer trials research team in your hospital.
Here are some questions you may have:
Finding a study / trial
- Are there any studies or trials I could enter with my type and stage of cancer?
Details about a trial
- Can you tell me why this study/trial is being done?
- What is being tested and why?
- What are the possible advantages and risks of taking part?
- Is there a chance I will not get the treatment being tested?
- Will I be allocated a treatment by computer, or do you and I have any choice?
- How long will the study last?
- What will I have to do if I take part?
- Will I have to have extra tests or scans?
- Will I need to go to hospital?
- Will I need to take time off work?
- Will being involved affect my day-to-day life?
- Who will oversee my cancer care while I am participating – will I have a different doctor?
- How will I find out about the results if I take part?
- Can I take part in more than one trial?
- If I join this trial could I miss out on trials in the future?
- How long do I have to decide?
How trials are run
- Can I tape the meeting or take notes?
- Is the study / trial approved?
- Can I bring a relative or friend to the informed consent meeting?
- Who will be allowed to see my medical records?
- What information about me will be on the computer?
- Who will be told I am in a trial?
- Can I claim expenses, such as travelling costs?
My Safety
- Who can I contact if I have a problem?
- What are the likely side effects?
- Can I leave the trial if I want to?
- What will happen if I get side effects?
- Who can I contact in an emergency?
- Who makes sure the trial is safe and properly run?
- Am I covered by insurance if things go wrong?
- Is there anything I am not allowed to do while I am in the trial?
- Are there any drugs or medicines I shouldn’t take while I am in the trial?