Risks and benefits
It is important to consider the risks and benefits of becoming involved in a clinical trial. One of the benefits of participating in a clinical trial is that you will be treated by a leading specialist in the field of cancer research. Other potential benefits include having access to new drugs and treatment methods that may not otherwise be available to you. You will also have access to a team of medical professionals that will monitor you and any treatment-related side-effects very closely. The chance to make a valuable contribution to cancer research is also a positive benefit.
The potential risks of participating in a clinical trial are that you are becoming part of a study that is asking a question to which the answer is unknown. New drugs and treatment methods may have side-effects. The efficacy of new therapies is also unpredictable, and in some cases, may be less effective than standard treatments.
