Research for a Cure Patient Hub
Providing clinical trial education and support for cancer patients and their families.
Clinical trials are a vital component to accelerating research to prevent, detect and treat cancer. They may also provide new hope to participants who’ve had little success with their current treatments. However, with over 360,000 clinical trials in existence, navigating, qualifying and participating in a trial can be overwhelming.
Thankfully, the National Foundation for Cancer Research has partnered with GoMo Health to make it easier for people worldwide to discover and qualify for clinical trials. Through the Research for a Cure Patient Hub, individuals are guided through the entire clinical trial process. From searching and qualifying for a trial, to step-by-step support throughout the study, patients have the support and tools they need to feel empowered in their journey through clinical trials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clinical trials are studies that are led to test the safety and effectiveness of new drugs and treatments on patients. Clinical trials consist of different phases and can only take place after pre-clinical research is completed and indicates that the treatment may improve the care of people.
Trials are designed and evaluated by a “principal investigator”—a scientist who is an expert in the field of study. The investigator along with their research team takes charge of the entire study and care of patient participants.
Depending on the type of trial, the benefits to patients may be different, but in general patients may benefit from the following:
- Getting access to the most up-to-date cancer care
- Receiving treatment from leading cancer experts
- Carefully tracked and analyzed treatment results
- Greater effectiveness of new treatment vs standard treatment
- Helping to accelerate research to defeat cancer
Although clinical trials in the United States are very carefully, reviewed and controlled, there are still potential risks involved to participants. It’s important to remember that the trial treatment has not been studied to the extent of the standard treatment. This means that not everything is fully known or understood about the effectiveness of treatment or side effects. The research team will always discuss the risks, prior to starting a trial.
If a standard treatment is working, patients are not typically recommended to participate in a clinical trial. However, when treatment options fail, a patient may want to explore clinical trial. But, keep in mind that patients need to qualify for clinical trials—often meeting very specific qualifications.
If you are interested in clinical trials, speak to your doctor first. He or she best understands your current treatment and can provide their expert recommendations and guidance regarding clinical trials.
The Research for a Cure Patient Hub brought to you by the National Foundation for Cancer Research and GoMo Health can help ease the process of navigating clinical trials. We’ll be here to guide you every step of the way so that you can feel confident, empowered and supported in your decision to participate in life-saving cancer research. We’re here to help you, when you need it most!
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