Be an informed patient. Know your options.
What are clinical trials?
Clinical trials are research studies that examine innovative treatments by comparing them with established approaches for various conditions, including gastric cancer. These novel methods may involve new drugs, drug combinations, or alternative ways of administering established therapies. Clinical trials not only address advanced-stage cancer but may also focus on initial cancer and recurrence prevention, minimizing treatment side effects, early detection improvement, and enhancing overall quality of life.
Why are clinical trials important?
All current cancer treatments were made possible through clinical trials. Clinical trials are the required path to approval of new and effective options that become available to future patients. Trials are the only way to determine if a new drug or treatment is better than the existing standard of care.
For patients, participation in clinical trials can offer a chance to benefit from new treatments that cannot be obtained elsewhere. Often, a clinical trial is the only way to get a new or experimental treatment approach before it is approved for general use.
When should I start thinking about clinical trials?
Discussion of clinical trials should be included in treatment planning soon after diagnosis. You don’t have to wait until your disease is advanced or all other options have been exhausted. Some trials are actually designed to test a treatment on recently diagnosed patients.
If your doctor does not introduce the subject, you can raise the topic yourself. Learn about all your options. Only 3-6% percent of cancer patients who are eligible for clinical trials participate. This means that more than 90% of cancer patients might be missing out on potentially beneficial new treatments.
Who can participate in clinical trials?
Eligibility criteria for participation in a particular clinical trial will depend on multiple factors, including your disease type and stage, your age, gender and race, and other treatments you’ve used.
How safe are clinical trials?
All clinical trials have risks, just as any medical test, treatment, or procedure has risks. You should consider if the possible benefits outweigh the risks. People with cancer are often willing to accept a certain amount of risk for a chance to be helped.
Clinical trials are conducted only when the treatment being tested has already shown promising results beforehand. Potential treatments undergo many years of research before a clinical trial is authorized and launched.
Clinical trials are designed to prioritize the health and safety of participating patients. You will be closely monitored throughout your participation and you might actually receive a higher and more attentive level of care than you would otherwise.
Once your eligibility is confirmed, your provider will discuss all aspects of the trial and treatment with you. You will be given comprehensive background information about the research and everything that will be asked of you during the trial. If you change your mind at any point, you can choose to leave the trial.
All participants in cancer clinical trials are guaranteed to receive the current standard of care for their condition, but a subset of patients will additionally receive the new treatment being tested to see if it enhances effectiveness.
Get Started Today: Find a Match
How can I find a trial that is right for me?
It can be overwhelming to understand all of the clinical trials that are underway and how they might match with your condition. Help is available.
The Gastric Cancer Foundation has partnered with Carebox Health to help you learn about appropriate clinical trials. The service is free, confidential and no-obligation. No personal information is ever disclosed or shared with third parties or clinical trial sites unless you request it.
Don't Delay. Begin Your Online Search Now.
Need more assistance? Speak with a navigator.
Request a Call
Fill out this short contact form to have an expert navigator call or email you at your convenience.
In your call, you can expect a navigator to:
- Review your situation and explain the process of finding a trial.
- Help you complete your confidential profile.
- Help you find the trials that are right for your condition and located nearest to you.
- Provide individualized support to guide you through the options.
- Prepare you to discuss possibilities with your medical care team.
Call as often as you wish to ask additional questions and receive more assistance.
Where can I find more information?
For more information about clinical trials:
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute
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Gastric Cancer Foundation has created this service for gastric cancer patients with the generosity of Stupid Strong Charitable Foundation, in loving memory of their founder and hero Candace Netzer.