Before receiving any chemotherapy, patients are given detailed information about the potential side effects and how to handle them. A clinical trial is a study conducted to evaluate new treatment. Each study is designed to answer scientific questions and to find new and better ways to help people. Clinical trials help us find out if a promising new treatment is safe and effective. People do not become participants in a clinical trial unless they chose to become part of the study.
People take part in clinical trials for a variety of reasons.
Usually they hope for benefits for themselves or they want to contribute to a research effort that may help others. National clinical trials are available here in Sioux Falls through the Sioux Community Cancer Consortium at the Avera Cancer Institute. The treatments used in clinical trials can cause side effects and risks, depending on the type of treatment and the condition of the participant. Side effects can vary from person to person. If you are thinking about taking part in a clinical trial, you will be told about the treatments being tested and you will be given a form to read that discusses the risks and hoped-for benefits.