Below are some questions about clinical trials and research you may want to ask your doctor to see if joining a clinical trial is right for your situation. Asking your doctor or the clinical trials team questions will help you make an informed choice.
Learn more about questions on:
Listen to our podcasts on Coping with a Cancer Diagnosis and Making Treatment Decisions
Practical issues
- What are my chances of benefiting from this research?
- What are the risks to me?
- Will I experience any side effects? How will they be treated?
- Are there any extra tests involved?
- Do I need to stay overnight in hospital?
- Will I need to take time off work? Will my day-to-day life be affected?
- Can I receive any reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses?
- Can I still participate if I need to travel interstate or overseas?
- Can I be involved in more than one study at the same time?
- How much time do I have to think about whether or not to join this trial?
Other treatments
- Who will oversee my cancer care while I’m participating?
- If I join this study, will I miss out on other treatment opportunities later?
- Can I still take other medicines or complementary therapies while I’m involved in the trial?
- Who will look after my treatment if I leave the trial early?
My naturopath suggested I take zinc and vitamin B supplements. Because I’m on a clinical trial, I checked with the nurses. They were very encouraging and said it would be okay.
— Alan, diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Study background
- What is being tested in the trial or study and why?
- Is this the first time the intervention has been tested? If not, what were the results of the previous studies?
- How many other people will be involved in this research?
- How long does the research last? For how long do I need to be involved?
- If I take time to decide, will delaying the treatment affect how well it works?
- Will the trial use a placebo?
- If it is a random control trial, will I have the option to switch treatment arms if the cancer advances or I have bad side effects?
Legal and ethical questions
- Has the study been approved by an ethics committee?
- Can you go through the participant information with me?
- Can I have the participant information in a different language?
- Who will cover the treatment costs for any side effects or complications?
- How will my identity be protected while I’m participating, and who will have access to my information?
- What will happen with the results of the research?
- Who can I contact if I have a problem?
After the trial
- How will I receive feedback on the trial results?
- Will I have follow-up care through the clinical trials team?
- If I respond to the experimental treatment, will I still be able to get it after the trial is over?
A/Prof Andrew Redfern, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Clinical Academic Oncologist, The University of Western Australia, and Lead Clinician, State Breast Cancer Collaborative, WA; Christie Allan, Program Coordinator – Clinical Trials, Cancer Council Victoria; Bronwyn Chalmers, Clinical Trial Coordinator, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW; Sarah Coulson, Coordinator, Oncology Clinical Trials, Projects and Research, Tasmanian Health Service, TAS; Kate Cox, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Annette Cubitt, Clinical Trials Manager, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Pete Currie, Consumer; Amy Ives, Clinical Trials Coordinator, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Sabina Jelinek, Clinical Research Nurse, Murdoch Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, WA; Dr Visalini Nair-Shalliker, Research Fellow – Prostate, Cancer Council NSW; Karlie Neilson, Project Officer – Cancer Research Division, Cancer Council NSW; Prof Mark Rosenthal, Medical Oncologist, and Director, Parkville Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, VIC; Joan Torony, CEO, TROG Cancer Research, NSW; Rebecca Weselman, Senior Clinical Trials Coordinator, Oncology Clinical Trials, St John of God Murdoch Hospital, WA; John Williams, Research Governance Officer, Cancer Council NSW.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
Featured resource
The information on this page is also available for download.
Additional resources
Need to talk?
Support services
Coping with cancer?
Speak to a health professional or to someone who has been there, or find a support group or forum
Need legal and financial assistance?
Pro bono services, financial and legal assistance, and no interest loans
Looking for transport, accommodation or home help?
Practical advice and support during and after treatment
Cancer information
Making cancer treatment decisions
Decision-making steps, consent and second opinions
Deciding on specialist care
How to find and choose a surgeon, oncologist or other specialist
View our publications
Guides and fact sheets for people with cancer, their families and friends