Benefits of Trial Participation

Every cancer patient has one thing in common:  they want access to the ‘best cancer treatment’ available.   The “best cancer treatment” is what we currently know from the results of clinical trials and are known as “standard of care.”   When recommending cancer treatment options, oncologists recognize that “best equals standard”.  These “best standard of care” practice guidelines can be found at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) website (www.nccn.org), which include a patient version.   NCCN is the largest alliance of the world’s leading cancer centers and it analyzes the outcomes of clinical research trials to change practice guidelines annually.  The only way to potentially do better than the “best standard of care” is to gain access to and participate in clinical research trials.   The trial itself is attempting to improve upon the best standard of care.  This is why the NCCN states in bold letters on every practice guideline every year for every cancer type: “The best management of any cancer patient is in a clinical trial.  Participation in clinical trials is especially encouraged.”  Clinical trials are the “cutting edge” of medicine. 

Participating in a clinical trial may actually improve your survival.  A study presented at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in 2000 showed that, on average, patients participating in trials live longer than patients not enrolled in trials.  This retrospective study was conducted in Austria, where most patients enroll in trials.  Five-thousand breast cancer trial participants were compared to two-thousand breast cancer non-trial patients who received standard of care.   The trial participants had a 10% improved survival over the standard of care patients.  This supports the “cutting edge” premise that trial participants, on average, are improving their own over-all survival as newer treatments are investigated. 

Other benefits of clinical cancer research trials include playing an active role in your own health care.  Additionally, you may find satisfaction in knowing you are helping others with cancer and potentially improving your own chances above the best standard of care.  If the new approach is proven to work, you will be among the first to benefit.  Sharing your burden of cancer may save lives.  New medications offer hope.