What clinical trials are available to me with prostate cancer? What questions should I be asking

Based on the provided NCCN guidelines materials, I'll help explain clinical trials and important questions to ask, specifically in the context of prostate cancer care.

Key Points About Clinical Trials:

According to the guidelines, clinical trials are conducted in phases:

• Phase I trials: Study dose, safety, and side effects of new treatments
• Phase II trials: Study how well the treatment works for specific cancer types
• Phase III trials: Compare new treatments against standard treatments
• Phase IV trials: Study long-term safety and benefits after FDA approval

Important Questions to Ask About Clinical Trials (From the NCCN Guidelines):

1. How do I find clinical trials that I can participate in?
2. What are the treatments used in the clinical trial?
3. Has the treatment been used for other types of cancer?
4. What are the risks and benefits?
5. What side effects should I expect and how will they be managed?
6. How long will I be in the clinical trial?
7. Will I be able to get other treatment if this doesn't work?
8. Will the clinical trial cost me anything?

Where to Find Clinical Trials:

The guidelines recommend these resources:

• NCCN Cancer Centers: NCCN.org/cancercenters
• National Cancer Institute (NCI): cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/clinical-trials/search
• U.S. National Library of Medicine: clinicaltrials.gov

Important Note: The guidelines emphasize that you should not wait for your doctor to bring up clinical trials - start the conversation yourself and learn about all treatment options. Even if you've already started standard treatment, new clinical trials become available regularly.

For help finding clinical trials, you can contact: NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1.800.4.CANCER (1.[phone removed])

Remember: Clinical trials rarely use placebos alone - you'll typically receive either the standard treatment plus a placebo or the standard treatment plus the new drug being studied.

Sources: NCCN Guidelines for Patients sections on "Clinical Trials" and "Questions to Ask About Clinical Trials"