Joining a clinical trial can mark a significant step in your healthcare journey that can be eased with careful considerations and discussions. Initiating a conversation with your doctor or another trusted member of your health care team is crucial. Your physician often holds valuable insights into available clinical trials, and can assist in identifying options that align with your needs, circumstances and goals. They can also provide vital information, answer your questions, and guide your decision-making process.
What should I consider before joining a clinical trial?
When considering joining a clinical trial, it’s important to weigh various factors, as this decision is deeply personal and may necessitate input from family, friends and your health care providers. A few things to consider include assessing potential costs associated with trial involvement, such as travel expenses to the clinic site or lodging (depending on if your trial is near your home.) Equally important is considering if you trust the institution, doctors, and nurses overseeing the trial. Establishing a foundation of trust instills strong communication and understanding, which will be helpful during your treatment.
Brittane Strahan, MSN, RN, CCRP, a registered nurse with four years of experience as an adult oncology research coordinator, recommends that patients should be thoroughly informed of the requirements of the trial, such as number of visits, events occurring at each visit, required treatments, required blood (or other biologic sample) collections and required questionnaires that they will need to complete as these are all critical to the individual’s safety and the study’s success. It’s also important to consider your standard treatment options and anticipated outcomes based on your unique circumstances. Your doctor or specialist serves as your primary source for comprehending the full spectrum of potential risks and outcomes associated with a particular trial.
How to know if you qualify for a clinical trial
After researching clinical trials, take a moment to review the eligibility and requirements to help guide if it’s right for you. You’ll find a few standard questions that will determine your eligibility. Eligibility criteria are the requirements that must be met to join a clinical trial.
Examples of eligibility requirements include:
- specific age ranges
- type of disease (for instance, type of cancer and extent of cancer spread)
- prior treatment history
- chronic health conditions
- pregnancy or intent to become pregnant
- liver or kidney function
- medications you take that might interfere with the trial drug
- other considerations that vary depending on the treatment being tested
How to find a clinical trial
Option 1: Explore different clinical trial platforms
Multiple websites offer information about clinical trials across various cancer types. While the specifics of each trial may vary between these sites, most trials are typically featured on all of them. These websites allow you to input specific details such as disease type, desired drug, or mutation, along with the phase of the study and location. Upon submission, the sites will generate a list of relevant studies. You can then access information regarding study status and obtain contact details for further inquiry.
Below are four websites you can search.
- BlackDoctor.org’s Clinical Trial Resource Center is the largest dedicated online center to help Black Americans find clinical trials. You can search a variety of trials by condition or trial provider.
- ClinicalTrial.gov is part of the National Library of Medicine. The site compiles clinical trials for cancer along with numerous other diseases and conditions. This includes trials listed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as well as those sponsored by pharmaceutical or biotech companies, which might not be listed by the NCI.
- National Cancer Institute (NCI) provides an online search tool for cancer clinical trials at cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/clinical-trials.
- Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) provides an online search tool at ciscrp.org/.
Option 2: Consult with your doctor’s team
Inform your medical team of your interest in participating in a study. They can provide guidance and may suggest relevant trials. Consider requesting your doctor or another member of your health care team to reach out to the trial team on your behalf. The clinical trial coordinator may ask detailed questions about your cancer diagnosis and overall health.Having your doctor or another health care team member contact the trial coordinator can help ensure that all necessary information is conveyed accurately.
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Option 3: Reach out to disease organizations
Research disease-specific organizations such as American Brain Tumor Association, National Cancer Institute and the Alzheimer’s Foundation to discover ongoing studies relevant to your condition. These organizations often provide valuable insights into current research initiatives. Lastly, Brittane Strahan, MSN, RN, CCRP shared that she recommends researching pharmaceutical companies as they often provide access to their recruiting trials via their websites.
I’ve done my research, what’s next?
After you’ve done your research on clinical trials and identified the one that aligns with your needs, it’s important to carefully assess the potential risks and benefits of all treatment options available to you.
Should any uncertainties persist, it’s wise to discuss them with your doctor. Seeking a second opinion from a doctor who isn’t associated with the clinical trials you’re exploring can be helpful as they can provide valuable insights about the latest treatments. While the final decision is yours to make, external input can contribute to a well-rounded decision-making process.
Lastly, remember to be gentle with yourself during this process. Navigating through treatment options and clinical trials can be overwhelming. Allow yourself time to digest information, seek support when needed, and trust in your ability to make the best decision for your health and well-being.
