The public understands very little about clinical trials. Some people are fearful of being "guinea pigs," even though participants in clinical trials receive high-quality care. Other people are not aware of clinical trials as an option, do not understand how they work, or do not have access to them.

Likewise, health care professionals may be unaware of appropriate clinical trials, may not want to refer people out of their practice, may believe that standard therapy is best, or may think that getting involved in clinical trials will add an undue administrative burden to their work.

Today's standard cancer treatments were yesterday's clinical trials. Successful clinical trials have:

• Increased survival rates of participants with testicular cancer, breast cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma

• Decreased morbidity associated with the surgical treatment of many cancers

• Resulted in the development of new compounds and techniques to reduce the side effects of cancer therapies

This guide is designed to familiarize health care professionals and others with the ins and outs of clinical trials. It describes how:

• The clinical trial process works

• Trials are designed to obtain particular information

• Clinical trials advance standard cancer treatment

• Trial participants are safeguarded

• People might face obstacles to participating in clinical trials

• To find a local clinical trial

After reading the guide and reviewing the case study, the reader will be better able to manage issues related to clinical trials. The reader should be able to:

• Discuss clinical trials as potential treatment or preventive options

• Answer people's questions and allay their fears about clinical trials

• Locate and refer people to accessible clinical trials

• Ultimately help advance the early detection, treatment, and eventual prevention of cancer

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