Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma. People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. Information specialists at the CIS use PDQ , NCI s cancer information database, to identify and provide detailed information about specific ongoing clinical trials.
Patients also have the option of searching for clinical trials on their own.
What Cancer Patients Need To Know. This booklet describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks.