A clinical trial is an experiment that involves patients in a new way of managing a condition. This might include investigating a new treatment, a new way of giving an existing treatment, or a new approach to diagnosing an illness or assessing an outcome after treatment.
Clinical trials are run because there is belief that the new way may be better than the standard way, and trials are vital to establish whether this is so. There is no guarantee of this, however - clinical trials are experimental by nature and there is a chance that the new way will be no better, or not as good even, as the standard way. Unexpected side-effects are also a possibility, or you may be put into the 'control group', which receives a placebo (dummy drug) or the standard existing treatment, rather than the new treatment.
If you are interested in taking part, or your child taking a part, in a clinical trial, speak to your/your child's health team about trials that may be suitable.
Before searching, it is best to have the following information to hand about your/your child's tumour:
Clinical trials take place globally and there are a number of different databases that you can search to see what is available. If you find a trial that you think is suitable, you should speak to your doctor.
Provided by the US National Library of Medicine, it's a database of privately and publicly funded studies around the world, including the UK.
Cancer Research UK - Find a trial
Provided by Cancer Research UK, it covers trials in the UK only.
Provided by the NHS National Institute for Health Research, it covers trials in the UK only.
Provided by the National Brain Tumour Society in the US, it covers trials in the USA only.
Please remember that clinical trials have strict eligibility criteria, which you must meet in order to join the trial.
If you need help with searching for a trial, please speak to your health team about trials that may be suitable for you.
If you have further questions, need to clarify any of the information on this page, or want to find out more about research and clinical trials, please contact our team:
0808 800 0004 (free from landlines and mobiles)
support@thebraintumourcharity.org
Phone lines open Mon-Fri, 09:00-17:00
clinicaltrials@thebraintumourcharity.org
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