A clinical trial is a scientific study of a certain prostate cancer treatment or the comparison of one prostate cancer treatment to another. Because there are control groups and standard measurements, a clinical trial can give conclusive results on the effectiveness of treatment. There are clinical trials which measure the effectiveness of a prostate cancer treatment as first line monotherapy, as salvage, as neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy, etc. Patients who choose participate in clinical trials may risk not being treated as effectively as if those who opt for older therapies, Patients who do participate in clinical trials, however, help further the knowledge of prostate cancer and the effectiveness of new treatment. New treatments may be less invasive or minimally invasive with a lower risk of side effects and complications; new treatments may also be more effective in destroying prostate cancer. No one, not even a doctor, can say with one hundred percent certainty that a certain treatment will be the best for a particular patient. As more patients participate in clinical trials, however, researchers will learn what is most effective in destroying the disease and preserving the quality of life for the men who in the future will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
|
