Clinical trials – research studies that involve volunteer patients – represent a crucial step in advancing care and developing potentially life-saving drugs and treatments. Deciding to participate in a clinical trial is a personal choice. Making this decision may involve research about the trial and consultation with your physician, medical oncologist, family and friends.
At Evergreen, clinical research focuses on testing new therapies for cancer, optimizing existing treatments, discovering prevention methods and developing ways to improve the quality of life for both healthy individuals and those living with cancer.
Understanding Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are strictly controlled human studies of new and emerging therapies. At Evergreen, these trials incorporate state-of-the-art patient care, while carefully evaluating how best to apply the most recent developments in cancer medicine.
The safety of study participants is our top priority. Before a treatment can be tested in people, it must be shown to be safe and effective in laboratory and animal studies. Volunteers are fully informed of possible risks and sign a consent form before being accepted into a clinical trial.
Results of clinical trials that prove a new treatment to be safe and effective are reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That agency determines if and when the treatment can be marketed for use by all patients with a particular disease.
Know Your Rights
Before enrolling in a clinical trial, you will undergo the informed consent process. At this time, the investigator will explain the purpose of the trial, its expected benefits, any possible risks or side effects and what your role will be. This is the time to ask questions! If you want to join the trial, you must sign the informed consent documents. You can leave a clinical trial at any time without penalty, even after signing the consent forms.