In an effort to develop new and hopefully more effective drugs, research studies are performed at the Vancouver Centre looking at new and more effective chemotherapy treatments. Your oncologist will advise you if you are a suitable candidate for these studies.

The Vancouver Centre is a major participant in clinical trials in oncology. Clinical trials are an important way of researching new treatments and drugs to find better ways of preventing, detecting, treating and controlling cancer. They test new treatments for effectiveness, safety, benefits, and side effects and compare the results with others to try and provide the best possible treatment for patients.

As clinical trials involve new treatments or drugs, there can be unknown risks as well as the hoped for benefits. However, patients participating in a clinical trial are carefully monitored during the trial and receive follow-up care afterwards.

A patient's eligibility for a clinical trial is determined by many factors such as the type and stage of the cancer, the age and condition of the patient, and the kind of treatment they have already received. To find out about the clinical trials that you may be eligible for and that could be beneficial to you, consult your physician and cancer care team.

If you are thinking about taking part in a clinical trial, here are some questions you should ask:

• what is the purpose of the study?     
• what does the study involve? What kinds of tests and treatments?     
• what is likely to happen in my case with, or without, this new research treatment?     
• what are the other choices and their advantages and disadvantages?     
• how could the study affect my daily life?     
• will I have any financial costs?
• what side effects could I expect form the study?     
• how long will the study last and will I have to be hospitalized?     
• what type of long-term, follow-up care is part of the study?

More information about Clinical Trials