Why are clinical trials important for African Americans?
We know that race, ethnicity and genetic background can affect the way patients respond to treatment. For many reasons, few Africans Americans join clinical trials. As a result, we often don’t know how new drugs will work for them.
Here are a few common reasons that AA are under-represented in clinical trials.
- Lack of awareness and understanding of what a clinical trial is
- Limited or poor healthcare access
- Fear and/or distrust of the medical profession
- Familial and /or cultural reasons
- Past historical wrong doings such as the Tuskegee study
Why join?
Clinical trials are central to the advancement of medicine. Progress in cancer treatments depends on volunteers who are willing to participate in clinical trials.
African Americans are at higher risk for developing certain types of cancer. Participating in a clinical trial can help future generations of African Americans by bringing new treatments for these cancers.
Clinical trials provide hope and treatment options for many patients. Patients who participate in clinical trials gain access to therapies that are not widely available. Clinical trial participants receive the additional care and attention from an oncologist as well as a clinical trial team.
There are many types of clinical trials for the prevention, detection and treatment of cancers. Participating in a clinical trial increases what researchers know about cancer and advances cancer treatments for future generations.
Ask your doctor if a clinical trial might be right for you.