What Should I Know Before I Decide to Be Part of a Clinical Trial?

Deciding to be part of a clinical trial is very personal. As you're considering your choices, it can be helpful to ask the doctors doing the trial the following questions:

• Why are you doing this trial?
• Why do you think this new treatment will be effective?
• What phase is this trial?
• Has this treatment been tested before?
• What were the results of any previous trials?
• Can I talk to someone who's already in the trial?
• Who is paying for the trial?
• What are the possible treatments I can get? How often are they given?
• What types of tests will I have to have and how often will I have to have them?
• How will being part of this study affect my daily routine?
• What side effects am I likely to have?
• Will my treatment be free? Will my insurance cover any of the cost? Exactly what will I have to pay for?
• How long will the trial last?
• Is long-term follow-up care part of the trial? What does it involve?
• If the treatment works for me, can I continue to get it after the trial is done?
• How do I get the results of the trial?