Advances in medicine and science are the results of new ideas and approaches developed through research. New cancer treatments must prove to be safe and effective in scientific studies with a certain number of patients before they can be made widely available.

Through clinical trials, researchers learn which approaches are more effective than others. This is the best way to test a new treatment. Today's standard treatments were first shown to be effective in clinical trials. Additional trials will help find new and better treatments.

• Clinical trials available through the Masonic Cancer Center

Am I a Candidate for a Clinical Trial?

Every clinical trial has different patient requirements. Consult your physician or oncologist to determine whether or not a clinical trial is right for you.

For more information, visit the following Web pages:

• Learning About Clinical Trials, National Cancer Institute (NCI). Includes links to NCI articles, including "Clinical Trials: Questions and Answers," "What is a Clinical Trial?," "Should I Take Part in a Clinical Trial?," and more.
• Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups. Includes "Clinical Trials: What You Need to Know," "The Clinical Trial ABCs," profiles of all the patient advocacy organizations that are members of the Coalition, and a list of open trials offered by all member cooperative groups.
• National Cancer Institute clinical trial information for veterans