What Are Clinical Trials?
Clinical trial is a program that tests new treatments, medicines, and therapies on cancer patients. The aim of this program is to develop better treatments and therapies for cancer. The purpose of clinical trials is to find the answer to specific cancer-related questions. Based on these findings, scientists come up with a new and advanced technology to prevent, cure and improve the overall care for cancer patients.
New types of treatments and medicines are tested during mouth cancer clinical trials. New surgery techniques, more effective radiation therapy, and new treatment combinations are tested as well. The trials take place in the laboratory where scientists first come up with some hypothesis based on earlier results from current treatment. They will then develop and test new ideas.
Types of Clinical Trials
A few types of cancer clinical trials are listed below. Each type is dedicated to seeking solutions for different problems.
- Prevention trials: How to find a way to prevent healthy people from developing cancer?
- Early detection trials: How to detect cancer as early as possible?
- Diagnostic trials: What approach should we use to detect the earliest cancer signs?
- Genetics trials: Can we use gene therapy to cure cancer?
- Treatment trials: What kind of new and improved treatments can we use to cure cancer patients?
- Quality-of-life trials: What kind of approach should we use to improve the life quality of cancer patients?
So, What Happens in Mouth Cancer Clinical Trials?
During mouth cancer clinical trials, the new and advanced treatments will be tested on patients. Doctors will conduct a research and monitor how the patient reacts to the treatment. Doctors will also examine whether the desired result is achieved.
What Is It Like to Receive Treatment in a Clinical Trial?
Cancer patients or participants will receive treatment in a cancer centre or hospital that has been qualified to conduct the research. Everyone who takes part in the research must follow and pass the rigorous protocol for approval before they are allowed to participate in a clinical trial. During the clinical trial, you will follow the treatment plan your doctor has recommended for you, and you have to report your health regularly.
How Are Patients Protected?
Patient privacy is very important in clinical trials. Every patient will receive all the information about the goals of the trials, what the risks and benefits are, some alternative treatments, and a list of procedures that the patient will go through. They may ask any questions regarding the trials and deserve to get all the answers they need to understand the process. Every patient has the right to decide whether or not to participate.
If new benefits or side effects are found during the process, participants must be informed as early as possible. Participants are advised to discuss their progress with the researchers at any time, at any stage of trials.
So, Why Are Clinical Trials Important?
Cancer is deadly and scary. Even if we don’t have it, our family members may have it. Our dear friend or someone we care about may have it. By having clinical trials, we can develop new treatments, find new medicines, and improve the life quality of cancer patients.
Thanks to the new innovation invented through clinical trials, many people living with cancer can now have a better life quality and live longer.
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