Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials

Clinical Cancer trials are controlled and monitored studies under which new approaches for treating, preventing, diagnosing, controlling or screening cancers are compared to what is currently available. Clinical trials can involve cancer patients (for studies of treatment and/or symptom control) or individuals who do not have cancer--for prevention studies and screening studies.

Although there are potential risks with any treatment, there are also many benefits in taking part in a clinical trial. For example, a clinical trial may:

• Provide access to promising new treatment that is not yet available beyond the clinical trail setting
• The treatment under study may be better than the standard approach
• Patients involved in clinical trials are followed very closely by a research team led by a physician
• Results from the study may help others in the future

In order to be eligible for a clinical trial, patients must meet a number of specific criteria. Factors which commonly influence eligibility include:

• Type and stage of cancer
• Age and gender of the patient
• Patient’s medical history and current health status

Redwood Regional Medical Group is unique in that we are licensed by both the National Institute of Health and the National Cancer Institute to perform clinical trials. This gives our patients access to the latest cancer treatments in the United States. If you are interested in joining a clinical trial, talk to your doctor. He or she can help you determine if a clinical trial is right for you.

Redwood Regional Medical Group Clinical Trial web page

Learn more about clinical trials on the NCI website >

National Institute of Health Clinical Trials web page

Center Watch Clinical Trials Listing Service

Learn more about treatment options:

Chemotherapy

Radiation Therapy

Surgery

Other Treatment Methods