Are clinical trials an option for me?

Clinical trials test whether new approaches are safe and effective compared with today’s standard care. Trials can offer cutting-edge therapies and are evaluated periodically; if a trial treatment is inferior to approved treatments, the trial may be stopped early. 

Studies run in phases, all with patient safety at the center:

• Phase 1 focuses on safety and dosing
• Phase 2 looks at activity against the disease
• Phase 3 compares the new therapy with standard treatment

Safety & oversight: Trials use informed consent, independent review boards (IRBs), and frequent monitoring to protect participants. You can leave a study at any time without losing access to standard care.

• Myth: “I might get only a placebo.”
  In cancer trials, placebos are rarely used alone. If a placebo is used, it’s typically added to standard treatment (standard care + placebo vs standard care + new drug). You’ll be told up front if any placebo is involved in the trial, but all participants will get treatment.
• Myth: “Trials are only for advanced disease.”
  Not true—many trials enroll people with early-stage breast cancer, including TNBC. 

• Access to promising therapies and expert teams;
• Medical care with doctors, groups and institutions that participate in clinical trials is often at the leading edge;
• Your participation helps improve care for future patients. 

Routine care costs are often covered by insurance; research-only costs are typically paid by the study sponsor. Ask your team exactly what’s covered.