Doctors all over the country are conducting many types of clinical trials, also called research studies, in which people take part voluntarily. Research has already led to advances and researchers continue to search for more effective approaches.

Patients who take part in clinical trials have the first chance to benefit from treatments that have shown promise in earlier research. They also make an important contribution to medical science by helping doctors learn more about the disease. Although clinical trials may pose some risks, researchers take many very careful steps to protect people who participate.

Researchers are looking at the effectiveness of radiation therapy before/after surgery, as well as the combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.  Other trials are studying new drugs, new drug combinations, and biological therapies. Some of these studies are designed to find ways to reduce the side effects of treatment and to improve the quality of patient's lives.

A person who is interested in being part of a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. They may want to read the NCI booklet titled:

Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know.

This booklet describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks.

NCI's Web site at http://cancer.gov provides general information about clinical trials.

The Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER can answer questions about cancer and provide information from the PDQ database.