The rewards of clinical trials for cancer and other conditions

In 2008, when Magic Johnson advocated increasing minority participation in clinical trials, he shed a light on both the unfortunate lack of data gathered on minorities in most research projects and the enormous benefit to individuals who participate in clinical trials. Now nine years later, minorities still make up less than 10 percent of patients enrolled in trials, according to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

Not a good record. Especially because, according to a new study in JAMA Oncology, SWOG (formerly the Southwest Oncology Group), the clinical trials network funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, has involved more than 200,000 patient volunteers, whose participation has led to approval of 14 new cancer drugs and more than 100 changes to cancer care standards. And most astounding of all, the study found that the clinical trials have gained Americans 2 to 3.34 million years of life. All that comes from 194 phase three clinical trials conducted between 1956 and 2016.

So if you have cancer or any other health condition that is not responding to treatment and your doctor says it’s a good idea, check out the information on the Food and Drug Administration’s clinical trials website by googling “Clinical Trials: What Patients Need to Know.” You will learn about benefits, risks, various types of trials, informed consent and diversity recruitment. For a complete listing of current clinical trials in your area that are recruiting volunteers, check out www.clinicaltrials.gov. Your participation can help you, others and science.