What should I know about clinical trials
Ask Navis about your situation
This answer is general. Get one about your specific case. No signup, answered right here.
For informational purposes only
This answer was generated by AI grounded in NCCN guidelines and published medical literature. It is not medical advice. Always consult your oncologist or care team before making treatment decisions.
Sources & medical oversight
- Built by OpenCancer’s team of physician-scientists and cancer survivors.
- Last updated October 30, 2025. Informational only — not a substitute for your oncology team.
Understanding Clinical Trials: A Comprehensive Guide
Clinical trials are research studies that test new treatments, drugs, or approaches to cancer care. Here's what you should know:
What [facility removed]al Trials?
Clinical trials evaluate whether new treatments are safe and effective before they become standard care. They test innovations like new drugs, drug combinations, surgical techniques, radiation methods, or prevention strategies.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), clinical trials happen in phases:
- Phase I: Tests safety and dosage (20-80 participants)
- Phase II: Evaluates effectiveness and side effects (100-300 participants)
- Phase III: Compares new treatment to standard care (hundreds to thousands of participants)
- Phase IV: Monitors long-term effects after FDA approval
Key Benefits to Consider
The American Cancer Society highlights these potential advantages:
- Access to promising new treatments before they're widely available
- Close monitoring by a specialized medical team
- Contributing to cancer research that helps future patients
- Receiving cutting-edge care at no cost (investigational treatment is typically free)
Important Considerations
ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) Guidelines emphasize understanding:
- Eligibility criteria: Specific requirements based on cancer type, stage, and prior treatments
- Informed consent: You'll receive detailed information about risks, benefits, and alternatives
- Randomization: Some trials randomly assign treatments; you may receive standard care instead of the experimental treatment
- Side effects: New treatments may have unknown or unexpected side effects
- Time commitment: More frequent visits and monitoring than standard care
Protections in Place
All clinical trials must be:
- Approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) that protects participant rights
- Registered with the FDA and monitored for safety
- Conducted with your voluntary informed consent - you can leave at any time
Finding Trials
The NCI recommends these resources:
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Comprehensive federal database
- NCI's Cancer Information Service: 1-800-4-CANCER
- Your oncologist's recommendations
- Major cancer centers often have trial coordinators
Questions to Ask Your Team
- What is the purpose of this trial?
- What are the potential risks and benefits compared to standard treatment?
- What will my participation involve (visits, tests, duration)?
- Who will oversee my care?
- What happens if the treatment doesn't work or I experience side effects?
- Will I have any costs?
Important to Remember
Clinical trials are completely voluntary. Choosing not to participate won't affect your standard care. Many patients find trials offer hope and access to innovation, while others prefer established treatments.
Your healthcare team is your best resource for discussing whether a specific trial matches your situation, values, and treatment goals.
Would you like help finding trials for a specific cancer type, or do you have questions about a particular trial you're considering?
Ask Navis about your case
That answer is general. Ask about your specific situation. No signup, answered right here.
Facing this with someone you love?
Keep the whole picture in one private place: records, a plain-language summary of where things stand, questions, and the people helping. Navis keeps it up to date so no one has to re-explain the story. Free, and only the people you invite can ever see it.
Start a care circle →Related Services
Services that may help with clinical trials for cancer patients
Have your records handy? Upload them for a deeper, personalized analysis →
Related Questions
Got my first chemotherapy yesterday, now I look all red in the face. Anyone who knows why
Facial redness and flushing after chemotherapy is actually quite common, and there are several reasons this happens: Most Common Causes: 1. Direct
Has anyone had bad back pain and upper body pains if so what have you done or your doctor checked and done to...
I'm sorry you're dealing with this pain—that sounds really frustrating, especially when the initial treatment isn't helping. While I can't replace you
Has anyone had radiation on their neck that hurts your throat? If so what helps with this problem? I have been...
I'm sorry you're dealing with this challenging situation. Let me address your questions about neck radiation side effects and what might help. I can s
Anyone from the Boston area (or I guess not) have luck with Dana Farber
I can share some valuable insights from the Cancer Patient Lab webinars, which feature real patient experiences and expert perspectives from Dana Farb
We just found out that they detected KRAS mutations and that the biopsy was positive for HER-2 amplification. What...
Let me break down what these findings mean in simpler terms: KRAS Mutation - What It Is: KRAS is a gene that normally acts like a "brake" on cell gr
So I noticed this last year when I was diagnosed and then again this year when the cancer came back…..when I lose...
That's a really astute observation, and you're definitely not alone in noticing this pattern! What you're describing makes physiological sense, and it
Evening all, have spent all day in A&E with my Dad. Dehydrated due to diarrhoea and not eating/drinking due to...
I'm sorry you and your dad are having such a difficult day. Dehydration combined with nausea and poor intake is a serious concern, especially for some
Hi! I'm new to this group. I was diagnosed with stage 2 triple pos breast cancer on the16th of july, just finished...
First, congratulations on completing 4 out of 6 rounds of chemotherapy—that's a significant milestone, and you should feel proud of your progress. I'm