Taking Part in Cancer Research
Cancer research has led to real progress in prostate
cancer detection, treatment, and supportive care.
Because of research, men with prostate cancer can look
forward to a better quality of life and less chance of
dying from the disease. Continuing research offers
hope that, in the future, even more men with this
disease will be treated successfully.
Doctors all over the country are conducting many
types of clinical trials (research studies in which people
volunteer to take part). Clinical trials are designed to
answer important questions and to find out whether
new approaches are safe and effective.
Doctors are studying many types of treatment and
their combinations:
- Active surveillance: Doctors are comparing having
surgery or radiation right away to choosing active
surveillance. The results of the study will help
doctors know whether to treat early stage prostate
cancer right away, or only when symptoms appear
or get worse.
- Cryosurgery: Surgeons are studying a tool that
freezes and kills prostate tissue in men with early
prostate cancer.
-
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU): Doctors
are testing HIFU in men with early prostate cancer.
A probe is placed in the rectum. The probe gives off
high-intensity ultrasound waves that heat up and
destroy the prostate tumor.
- Radiation therapy: Doctors are using different
doses or schedules of radiation therapy. They are
looking at the use of radioactive implants after
external radiation. And they are combining radiation
therapy with other treatments, such as hormone
therapy.
- Hormone therapy: Researchers are studying
different schedules of hormone therapy, and they are
combining it with other treatments.
- Chemotherapy: Researchers are testing anticancer
drugs and combining them with hormone therapy or
biological therapy. Chemotherapy allows some men
to live longer and with a better quality of life.
- Biological therapy: New biological therapies are
under study. For example, doctors are testing cancer
vaccines that help the immune system kill cancer
cells.
Doctors are also testing ways to manage the
problems caused by prostate cancer and its treatment.
For example, they are studying ways to manage or
prevent bone pain, bone thinning, hot flashes, and
impotence.
Even if the men in a trial do not benefit directly,
they may still make an important contribution by
helping doctors learn more about prostate cancer and
how to control it. Although clinical trials may pose
some risks, doctors do all they can to protect their
patients.
If you're interested in being part of a clinical trial,
talk with your doctor. You may want to read the NCI
booklet Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research
Studies. It describes how treatment studies are carried
out and explains their possible benefits and risks.
NCI's Web site includes a section on clinical trials
at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials. It has
general information about clinical trials as well as
detailed information about specific ongoing studies of
prostate cancer. NCI's Information Specialists at
1-800-4-CANCER or at
LiveHelp at
http://www.cancer.gov/help can answer questions
and provide information about clinical trials.
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