| diagnosed with mesothelioma, there are different | | | | therapies and vaccines, either alone or in a |
| treatment options that you can choose, which are | | | | combination approach. |
| largely based on how advanced the disease is and | | | | Clinical trials for mesothelioma are done in steps, or |
| where it is located in the body. Some people with | | | | stages, each of which is used to answer certain |
| mesothelioma may be eligible and may wish to | | | | questions about the specific treatment being done. In |
| participate in clinical trials for the treatment of the | | | | the first phase, researchers discover the best way |
| disease. | | | | to deliver the most effective drugs to the patient. |
| Before one decides to participate in a clinical trial, it is | | | | Correct dosage amounts and methods of |
| wise to discover what is involved in the trial and | | | | use(injection or mouth) are important issues. |
| whether or not your doctor and family feels that it is | | | | Researchers are also on the lookout for any serious |
| a viable option. Some of the things that you should | | | | side effects. Usually, only small numbers of people are |
| ask your doctor are: | | | | used in a Phase I study. |
| • Which treatments are used in the trial? | | | | In the second phase of a clinical trial, researchers |
| • What are the differences in this treatment | | | | determine how safe and effective the drug is and |
| and conventional treatments? | | | | how it effects the person's body. Since there are |
| • What side effects can be expected? | | | | risks involved, these trials usually have less than 100 |
| • Where are treatments given? | | | | patients. |
| • What are the costs of the treatments? | | | | Phase III is used to determine which treatments |
| It can make it easier to determine if a mesothelioma | | | | have the greatest survival rates and which have |
| clinical trial is a good option for you once you have | | | | fewer side effects. One group of participants will |
| answers to these questions. You are the one who | | | | receive the normal treatment and another will receive |
| must make the decision, and a doctor cannot put | | | | the trial therapy. This usually involves hundreds of |
| you in a trial without your consent. Some of these | | | | people in various places in the country. |
| treatments have benefits, while others may not be | | | | Phase IV of the clinical trial is used to determine the |
| as effective. The treatment options are always | | | | long term safety and efficiency of the product used |
| manipulated to fit the particular patient in terms of | | | | for treatments. This is usually done after the |
| the location and stage of the cancer and the | | | | treatment has already been approved to be used in |
| patient’s age and general health. | | | | a standard setting. These are also known as |
| A clinical trial is a medical research study that is | | | | post-marketing surveillance studies and there are |
| controlled. Clinical trials are performed by researchers | | | | often hundreds or thousands of patients involved. |
| to determine the safety and efficacy of a treatment | | | | While a clinical trial is not right for everyone, for |
| before it can achieve widespread use. Studies include | | | | some, a clinical trial can open up new doors to |
| radiation and surgical techniques, new drugs, biological | | | | effective treatments for mesothelioma. |