Clinical trials have possible Benefits and Risks.

When you need treatment for cancer, you may want to think about joining a clinical trial. Like all treatment options, clinical trials have possible benefits and risks. By looking closely at all options, including clinical trials, you are taking an active role in a decision that affects your life. This section has information you can use when making your decision.

Possible Benefits

• You will have access to a new treatment that is not available to people outside the trial.


• The research team will watch you closely.


• If the treatment being studied is more effective than the standard treatment, you may be among the first to benefit.


• The trial may help scientists learn more about cancer and help people in the future.

Possible Risks

• The new treatment may not be better than, or even as good as, the standard treatment.


• New treatments may have side effects that doctors do not expect or that are worse than those of the standard treatment.


• You may be required to make more visits to the doctor than if you were receiving standard treatment. You may have extra expenses related to these extra visits, such as travel and childcare costs.


• You may need extra tests. Some of the tests could be uncomfortable or time consuming.


• Even if a new treatment has benefits in some patients, it may not work for you.


• Health insurance may not cover all patient care costs in a trial.