Find a Clinical Trial
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Clinical trials are research studies that involve people. Any time you or a loved one needs treatment for cancer, clinical trials are an option to think about. Learning all you can about clinical trials can help you talk with your doctor and decide what's right for you.
Clinical trials offer hope. They also provide the opportunity for you to take an active role in your treatment. Participating in a clinical trial may not only benefit you; it may benefit others who are facing the same type of cancer that you are.
The best way to learn about and find a clinical trial that is right for you is to talk to your doctor. While it is helpful to begin these conversations early in your treatment process, they can happen at any stage of your cancer experience.
It’s possible your doctor may or may not be involved in clinical trials. If they are, they might know a trial that is a good fit for you and may be able to enroll you on a clinical trial in the cancer center where you are being treated. You may also need to ask your doctor whether there are any clinical trials that are appropriate for your cancer. In some instances, you may need to change the location of your treatment if the trial that is right for you is not offered at your current treatment center.
But you don’t have to wait for your doctor to bring up a clinical trial. Some people seek information and look for clinical trials on their own. If you do choose to go on the internet, stick with established sites or with organizations that help match patients to trials. Take the information you find to your doctor for discussion.
What you need to know to find a clinical trial:
- Your exact cancer type and stage
- Your previous treatments
- Whether your cancer center participates in clinical research and offers clinical trials
- Where the trial is offered
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Clinical Trial Finder
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and ClinicalTrials.gov are 2 well-known organizations that provide information and details about clinical trials for all types of cancer. While each site may look different, most clinical trials are included on both sites.
NCI is a federal agency that provides funding for most U.S. cancer clinical trials. NCI's site has an online search tool for cancer clinical trials. You can also ask for help by calling 800-4-CANCER (800-422-6237).
ClinicalTrials.gov is a large government database of clinical trials you can search. This database lists publicly and privately supported clinical trials, but keep in mind that not all trials found here are for cancer. The website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health.
More Clinical Trials
Discover our collection of resources to help you learn more about clinical trials. Our resources speak to a diverse population of cancer patients, caregivers, and their healthcare team in a changing environment.
Peer Clinical Trials Support Program
If you are a Black or African American cancer patient and want one-on-one support to learn more about clinical trials, this program is for you.