The low rate of participation can be attributed, in part, to inadequate funding of clinical research. In addition, the threat that insurers won t cover routine patient care costs for someone enrolled in a clinical trial also serves as a deterrent to many. The low rate of participation can also be attributed in part to the excessive amount of paperwork required by various government entities, which reduces the incentive for physicians to encourage participation by their patients. Finally, excess costs incurred by the physician, beyond research costs covered by the sponsoring organization, could account for lower levels of physician participation. A recent ASCO survey reveals that physicians are subsidizing the costs of clinical trials at substantial levels.
Most people don t realize that cancer is the most curable common disease today.
The increased survival for children can be directly attributed to their higher rate of participation in cancer clinical trials. Pediatric cancer is rare, and as a result children diagnosed with cancer are typically referred to children s hospitals where there is a much higher commitment to clinical trials and evidence based medicine. As we begin the new millennium, it is interesting to note that approximately 1 in 900 adults are survivors of childhood cancers. We witness the miracle of clinical trials every time a doctor gives a new therapy to patients and the patients respond positively. To put the importance of clinical trials into perspective, it is helpful to remember that every treatment available today is a direct result of a clinical trial.