This section explains how to find out about a clinical trial or other research study and what happens once you decide to participate.
Learn more about:
- Finding a trial or study
- Deciding to take part
- Who can join a study?
- Informed consent
- Your role in a trial or study
- Continuing the treatment
- Withdrawing from a study
- Finding trial results
- Caring for someone considering a clinical trial
Finding a trial or study
There are many ways to find out about clinical trials and other research studies.
| Talking to your cancer specialist | Most cancer specialists know about current studies and may recommend you join a suitable study, or you can ask them if there are any trials you can consider. If your hospital has a clinical trials or research nurse, you can also ask them about current studies. You don’t have to join a study at your current treatment centre – your doctor can refer you to a suitable trial at another centre. |
| Information from hospitals and support groups | Hospital and treatment centre waiting rooms often have information about current studies, or you might hear about a study through patient support groups, in the general media or through social media (such as Facebook). Before providing any personal information, especially via social media, check the study with your doctors. |
| Searching clinical trials websites | You can also search clinical trials websites. If there isn’t a suitable study available right now, you can register through websites such as www.cart-wheel.org, and they will tell you about any studies that come up in the future. |
| Talk to your specialist | If you find a trial or study you’re interested in joining, discuss it with your cancer specialist. You can ask them if you meet the eligibility criteria and, if so, whether they could coordinate your involvement or put you in touch with the research team. |
Caring for someone considering a clinical trial
You may be reading this information because you are caring for someone with cancer who is interested in taking part in a clinical trial or another research study. It is often a good idea for carers to read about the study themselves and talk it over with the person who has cancer. You can also discuss the study with the clinical trials or research nurse.
While the decision to join a study can only be made by the person with cancer (unless they’re under 18), it’s important to understand what impact the study might have on them, and on you and your family. For example, you may have to take extra time off work to drive the person to appointments, or you may be worried about how the treatment will affect them. If the study will mean you have extra expenses (such as parking fees), check whether you can be paid back for these.
Being involved in research may offer the person with cancer a chance to have a promising new or improved treatment or useful supportive care options. It may be satisfying to know that their participation will help others in the future. As a carer, you may also be asked to take part in research into the experience of carers, for example, by doing surveys about your wellbeing. You could read more information on cancer trials and research to help you decide.
Caring for someone with cancer can be stressful. Try to give yourself some time out, and share your worries and concerns with somebody neutral such as a counsellor or your doctor. To find local support services and information, contact Carer Gateway (call 1800 422 737) or call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20.
For more information see Caring for someone with cancer.
When I was diagnosed with cancer, a friend told me about the study. Getting involved was simple. Participating in cancer research is about giving to other people, and I think that’s a very valuable thing.
Phillipa
→ READ MORE: Deciding to take part in a trial
Video: What is a clinical trial?
In this video, Medical Oncologist Dr Elizabeth Hovey explains what clinical trials are and how they can improve cancer treatment.
Podcast: Making Treatment Decisions
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
More resources
All updated content has been clinically reviewed by A/Prof Brett Hughes, Senior Staff Specialist, Medical Oncology, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and The Prince Charles Hospital, and Associate Professor, The University of Queensland, QLD. This edition is based on the previous edition which was reviewed by the following panel: A/Prof Brett Hughes (see above); Christie Allan, Clinical Trials Lead, Cancer Council Victoria, VIC; Dawn Bedwell, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Queensland, QLD; Joanne Benhamu, Senior Research Nurse, Team Lead, Lung, Colorectal and Palliative Care Trials, Parkville Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Louise Dillon, Consumer; Sabina Jelinek, Clinical Nurse Research, St John of God Murdoch Hospital, WA; Chloe Jennett, Program Coodinator, Cancer Research, Cancer Council NSW; Carmel McCarthy, Consumer; Alison Richards, Research Unit Manager, Medical Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Prof Jane Ussher, Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, NSW; Prof Janette Vardy, Medical Oncologist, Concord Cancer Centre, and Professor of Cancer Medicine, The University of Sydney, NSW.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
