Clinical trials test the safety and effectiveness of new treatment options. Standard care is a treatment option that has been proven effective and is currently being used. Likely, the standard care was proven effective based on past clinical trials. Today s clinical trials lead to tomorrow s standard care. Advances in medicine and science result from new ideas developed through research.
Clinical trials help scientists develop improved treatments and sometimes lead to cures.
Scientists may study ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, control, and treat cancer. They may also measure the psychological impact of the disease and determine ways to improve a patient s comfort and quality of life. Risks and side effects exist with almost any treatment whether it is standard care or a clinical trial. However, many safeguards are in place to make clinical trials as safe as possible and protect patient rights. Before a new treatment is tried with patients, it is carefully studied in the laboratory.