Who makes sure my rights are protected?

What cancer treatment will I get?
Why do some people choose not to be part of a clinical trial?
Do I have to take part in a clinical trial?

National and local groups of experts approve clinical trials before they begin. One of the most important groups is called an institutional review board (IRB).

An IRB includes doctors, nurses, and people from the community. The IRB's job is to review clinical trials and make sure they are run safely and fairly.

What cancer treatment will I get?

If you join a clinical trial that compares treatments, you will get one of the following:

• The best accepted treatment for the kind of cancer you have (called standard treatment)    or
• A new treatment that doctors hope will be better than the standard treatment

Why do some people choose not to be part of a clinical trial?

People may choose not to join a trial for any of the following reasons:

• It is not known for sure if the new treatment will help you more or less than the standard treatment.     
• Treatments in clinical trials may have unexpected side effects.
• You may have to pay some of the costs of the trial that Medicare does not cover. It is important to talk about these costs with your health care provider.

Do I have to take part in a clinical trial?

No. Taking part in a clinical trial is up to you. It is important to look at all of your treatment options. You and your family should ask questions before you decide to take part. Be sure to get all the information you need before making your decision.