Few Cancer Patients are Aware of Clinical Trials

According to Cancer Clinical Trials Awareness and Attitudes in Cancer Survivors (a survey conducted by the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups and Northwestern University), while the majority of cancer clinical trial participants are highly satisfied with their experience, only as few as one in ten cancer survivors were aware of trial opportunities during treatment.

A clinical trial is a carefully monitored medical research study in which people participate as volunteers to test new methods of prevention, screening, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. All new methods must first be tested in clinical trials, before they are approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and made available to the public.

While there are 4,970 clinical trials underway in the United States for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and management of symptoms for cancer, only few patients are aware of it.

Read more at PR Newswire.