Before any new treatment or medication is approved, it must go through human clinical trials. The drugs involved in a clinical trial have already been tested extensively with other methods, but more data is needed on the rate of success and side effects before it is approved. Clinical trials can help those who are in later stages of mesothelioma, and provide valuable information for those who may suffer from the disease in the future. Before you enroll in a clinical trial, there are several things you should consider.
Eligibility Requirements
Different clinical trials will have different eligibility requirements. It’s not uncommon to see restrictions placed on age, types of therapy that have been tried, stage of disease, and others. Each trial will have the restrictions published, and you can go over the information with your doctor if you feel you may be a good candidate.
Payment Options
In a perfect world clinical trials would be free of cost. Unfortunately the treatments can be expensive, and they are typically required to be paid. Your insurance or medicare may cover the costs, based on a few things. If the trial is being funded by the National Cancer Institute or other federal agencies that fund cancer studies then Medicare or private insurance may cover the costs. The trial must also not be a prevention trial, rather a treatment or diagnostic trial in order to qualify.
Trial Phases Explained
If you are thinking of looking in to clinical trials, you will see trials listed in phases. Phase 1 trials typically test a new drug or treatment on a small number of people. This allows the study to produce preliminary results.
Phase 2 trials will give more information regarding the treatments, and are offered to more people. This phase is what is usually used to gather data on safety and percentages of benefits.
Phase 3 trials are used when the treatment has been shown effective. It is used to compare the new treatment with existing treatments. The numbers gathered then determine how much more effective the new treatment could be. Phase 3 trials aren’t as difficult to get in to as Phases 1 and 2.
Finding Information on Current Trials
Many times your doctor will go over different trials that are available if they feel you are a good candidate. Since it can be difficult for a busy doctor to stay up on all the trials, you may want to take the initiative to research them as well. You can find listings of all trials being funded by the National Cancer Institute by visiting their website. There you will find listings of all current trials, the phases they are in, and the requirements for participation. You can take this to your doctor for further information if you have questions about eligibility. They can also provide you with insight regarding what to expect during each part of the trial.