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Search for the Cure
“Never Give Up!”
Investing in research, and developing a cure
To develop a cure, we need to be proactive. Minority participation in clinical trials is essential, and must be encouraged in our community. (Cancer.gov: http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/benchmarks-vol6-issue4/page1) With more minority involvement, the medications and treatments developed can address the specific needs in the minority population. (Intercultural Cancer Council: http://iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts/cfs11.htm)
How to find clinical trials
Start with your doctor. He or she may be able to keep you informed of trials appropriate for you, based on your medical history. Pharmaceutical, biotechnology companies, government agencies, individual researchers and healthcare institutions sponsor research studies and clinical trials, under strict FDA guidelines. Clinical trial information can also be found online, such as the listings below:
• The National Institutes of Health - ClinicalTrials.gov
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/action/SearchAction?term=Kidney+Cancer;
• National Cancer Institute - Clinical Trials
http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/doc.aspx?viewid=CF77634E-36E7-47C2-A88E-9E7B163D71F3&ReqUrl=%2Fclinicaltrials
http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/doc.aspx?viewid=CF77634E-36E7-47C2-A88E-9E7B163D71F3&ReqUrl=%2Fsearch%2Fclinicaltrials
What happens during a clinical trial?
Be informed. Before signing up for a study, find out as much as you can about the clinical trial. Understand the risks along with the benefits. Research studies can be joined at various phases to determine the safety and effectiveness of promising treatments. Phase 1 normally includes safety, dosage and side effects evaluation; Phase 2 determines effectiveness while further evaluating safety and Phase 3, usually the final test, involves more extensive monitoring of side effects and comparison of how the medication or treatment reacts to commonly used medications. Phase groups increase in size as the study progresses.
Overseeing the phase groups of clinical trials, a team of doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers closely monitor your health before, during and after the trial, ensuring compliance with instructions and recording any positive or adverse reactions. Being part of a clinical trial gives you the opportunity to take a proactive role in your own healthcare. Clinical trials are part of the frontline in discovering treatments and cures.
Medications available now were at one time part of a clinical trial.