Frequently Asked Questions

Why do people choose to participate in a study?
The reasons people choose to participate are varied as the types of studies available.

Some people choose to participate because many treatment studies offer the "standard treatment" vs. "standard treatment" plus a drug the researchers believe may make the treatment more effective.

Others may choose to participate because there may not be an option for standard care, while even others may appreciate the opportunity to help with the advancement of medical science.

When a patient participates on a study is the care free?
No, patients are billed no differently than if they were not participating on a study.

In some cases, participating on a study can lead to a higher cost, therefore, a potential patient should discuss this with his/her physician.

There are cases for which the study sponsor will assist in payment or provide the study medication free of charge. All patients sign an informed consent that will provide them with this information.

Are all the studies treatment studies?
No, there are a variety of types of studies including prevention, tissue analysis and quality of life studies.

Are all patient on chemotherapy studies treated in the hospital?
No, most patient receive their treatment in the outpatient setting.

Can a patient drop out of a study?
Yes, a patient has the right to discontinue his/her participation in a study at any time, for any reason.

A patient who is considering discontinuing participation in the study should discuss it with his/her doctor before deciding to discontinue.

What cancer clinical trials does Medicare pay for?
Medicare will pay for most cancer treatment clinical trials that are funded by:

• The National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Cooperative Group Studies
• Federal Government Funded Studies