Clinical trials
A clinical trial is a research project that compares two or more treatments in patients with a particular condition or at risk of a condition to help generate high quality evidence about which is the more effective treatment or preventative strategy. The treatment being investigated in a clinical trial can be a medicinal product, a procedure, a device or another type of therapeutic intervention. Clinical trials are an essential part of the process of evidenced based practice and can help guide treatment decisions for both health care professionals and patients.
Should I consult my oncologist about it?
Your radiotherapy oncologist may invite you to a clinical trial because you meet the criteria for inclusion and it may provide you with better health outcomes compared to current clinical standards.
You may also wish to search for clinical trials that might interest you. If you do find a clinical trial that you feel may be of benefit to you, you should discuss this with your radiotherapy oncologist for further advice and referral.
There are currently many clinical trials in the UK involving radiotherapy. Here are some resources below if you are interested in finding out more.