Should I participate in a clinical trial for prostate cancer?
Clinical trials play a critical role in evaluating new therapies, improving existing treatments, and discovering innovative approaches that can enhance patient outcomes.1 Clinical trials for prostate cancer may investigate various aspects such as new medications, surgical techniques, radiation therapies, or combination therapies.2,3 Here we explore the role of clinical trials in prostate cancer research and how participation may benefit both individuals and the broader medical community.
Participating in a prostate cancer clinical trial can offer several benefits, including:3
1. Access to treatments under study: Clinical trials often provide access to advanced therapies that are not yet available to the general public, potentially leading to better outcomes.
2. Contribution to medical knowledge: By participating in a clinical trial, you help researchers learn more about prostate cancer and how to treat it.
3. Comprehensive care and monitoring: Clinical trial patients are generally more closely monitored than non-clinical trial patients. An example of this could be the frequency of imaging or bloods – clinical trial patients may have more imaging or blood tests than non-clinical trial patients.
4. Potential for better outcomes: There is a possibility that the treatment being evaluated in the clinical trial is more effective than the standard treatment for prostate cancer, though this will depend on your individual situation - your medical team will discuss all your options to determine what is appropriate for you.
The clinical trials team will carefully explain all the details of the trial, including things like possible side effects, to make sure you understand what is going on every step of the way.3
What are the potential risks of participating in a clinical trial?
Every clinical trial is different so the potential risks associated with them may differ. Some common disadvantages of clinical trials may include:3
- Unknown side effects: Because experimental treatments are still being evaluated, there may be unknown side effects associated with them
- Treatment randomisation: If participants are being randomly assigned to different treatment groups, you may not have control over which treatment you receive
- Additional time and commitment: Clinical trial participation often requires additional time for appointments, treatments, and follow-up assessments
If you’re considering participating in a prostate cancer clinical trial, the first step is to speak with your healthcare team. They can help identify options that might be suitable for you. Each clinical trial has eligibility criteria which is a set of guidelines about who can join. These may specify a particular cancer type (e.g., prostate cancer), stage of cancer (e.g., stage I, II III or IV prostate cancer), previous treatments, and other factors.3
Remember, participation in a clinical trial is completely voluntary, and you always have the right to withdraw at any time.3
To find out more about prostate cancer
To find out more about clinical trials
Disclaimer
This blog is provided for information purposes only. It is not a substitute for your own health care professional's advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Any medical procedure or treatment involving the use of radiation carries risks, including skin irritation and associated pain. Individual treatment outcomes and experiences will vary. Clinical Trials are not reviewed for safety or quality of efficacy by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and are therefore considered experimental in their research.