Clinical Trials

Questions to Ask

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If you are considering enrolling in a clinical trial, you should gather as much information as you can about it before you make your decision. The National Cancer Institute has compiled a list of questions that patients may want to ask their own doctors or the clinical trial staff.

About the study:

What is the purpose of the study? In what phase is the study?
Why do researchers believe the new treatment being tested may be effective? Has it been tested before?
Who sponsors the study, and who has reviewed and approved it?
How are the study data and patient safety being checked?
When and where will study results and information go?

About possible risks and benefits:

What are the possible short- and long-term risks, side effects, and benefits to me?
Are there standard treatments for my type of cancer?
How do the possible risks, side effects, and benefits in the study compare with standard treatment?

About your care:

What kinds of treatments, medical tests, or procedures will I have during the study? Will they be painful? How do they compare with what I would receive outside the study?
How often and for how long will I receive the treatment, and how long will I need to remain in the study? Will there be follow-up after the study?
Where will my treatment take place? Will I have to be in the hospital? If so, how often and for how long?
How will I know if the treatment is working?
Will I be able to see my own doctor? Who will be in charge of my care?

About personal issues:

How could the study affect my daily life?
Can you put me in touch with other people who are in this study?
What support is there for me and my family in the community?

About costs:

Will I have to pay for any treatment, tests, or other charges?
What is my health insurance likely to cover?
Who can help answer any questions from my insurance company or managed care plan?

Find a Clinical Trial

To find a clinical trial, search our clinical trials database by study number, investigator or by topic (keyword).

This page was last updated on: May 15, 2009.