HOW YOU CAN HELP
PARTICIPATE IN A CLINICAL TRIAL
There are many reasons why people decide to participate in a clinical trial:
- They may be able to access a new treatment before it is routinely available as standard treatment for all breast cancer patients;
- The treatments offered on a clinical trial include the best current standard treatment, compared with a new treatment which earlier research shows may be better;
- Participating in a clinical trial helps to advance medical knowledge;
- Many clinical trial participants are motivated to take part because the results of current clinical trials may help improve treatments and outcomes for future women diagnosed with breast cancer or who are at risk.
Sham Lachin is a participant in the CAPTURE clinical trial.
Clinical trial participants may be monitored more closely than patients who receive standard treatment and their treatment is rigorously documented. There are usually questionnaires to complete regarding the participant’s feelings or reactions to the treatment. This careful follow up means that the outcomes of the clinical trial are the result of accurate and detailed information which is then published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
If you would like to participate in a breast cancer clinical trial, you should discuss this with your treating doctor.
A list of our current clinical trials that are open for participant entry, is available on the Breast Cancer Trials website at www.breastcancertrials.org.au.
Information about breast cancer clinical trials can also be found on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry website at www.anzctr.org.au.