Clinical trials are research studies to determine whether new drugs or treatments are safe and effective. These studies look to find a better way to prevent, diagnose or treat a disease. Patients who participate in clinical trials receive treatments or procedures that have been tested in successful research studies for safety and efficacy. Most clinical trials involve the evaluation of new drugs or procedures.

All patients who participate in clinical trials are volunteers and may choose to stop their participation in at any time.

There are numerous ongoing clinical trials for cancer prevention and treatment open for enrollment at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.

For more information about a particular clinical trial, please call your physician or the Clinical Trials Office at (910) 715-2200 or (910) 715-7841.

There are several types of clinical trials:

• Therapeutic trials or treatment trials test new drugs, surgery techniques, radiation therapy procedures or other treatment methods on people with specific types and stages of cancer.
• Prevention trials study how healthy people with a high risk may prevent cancer.
• Early-detection/screening trials study ways to find early-stage cancer. 

People participating in clinical trials have access to experimental medications or devices before they become available to the general public. And some people like the idea that they are contributing to medical science.

But participation is not without risks. The risks and possible side effects specific to the clinical trial are listed in the informed consent form and discussed by the research team before you enter the trial.

. Possible benefits of clinical trial participation include:

• More treatment options
• Access to promising new treatments
• Future cancer patients may benefit from your participation
• Promote prevention and early detection of cancer

Possible risks of clinical trial participation include:

• New treatment may be worse than standard treatment
• Some side effects may be unexpected
• New treatments may not always be as good as or better than standard treatment
• Your health insurance may not pay for all of your clinical trial care or tests
• You may have more frequent visits to the doctor or hospital for tests or treatments than if you were not involved in the study
• You may be required to complete questionnaires about changes in your quality of life or other information on a regular basis
• You will be required to follow the protocol as written to remain in the study