People who take part in studies receive specialized care under a very precise set of directions, or protocol. To ensure quality care, highly trained and experienced cancer specialists design, review, and approve each protocol. In addition, all clinical study patients are carefully monitored during a study and followed afterwards. They often become part of a network of clinical studies carried out around the country. In this network doctors and researchers share their ideas and experience, so patients receive the benefit of the shared knowledge.
Studies can involve risks as well as hoped-for benefits.
All cancer treatments have side effects, but treatments being studied may have side effects that are not yet understood as well as the side effects of standard treatments. The potential risks and benefits of each study are explained during the informed consent process. This means that patients and families discuss all aspects of the study with their doctors or nurses before deciding whether or not to participate. Some health plans cover part or all of the cost of care at children's cancer centers, but benefits vary from plan to plan. One large insurance organization, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is now setting up the Blue Quality Centers for Pediatric Cancer, a group of children's cancer centers at which Blue Cross and Blue Shield beneficiaries can receive care.