SEARCHING FOR CLINICAL TRIALS

Are there any general considerations when I start searching the clinical trial sites?

All of the sites that I recommend allow you to do both a basic type of search and an advanced type of search. The most basic type of search entails just searching for a cancer type such as breast cancer or lung cancer. The problem with a very basic search is that it often includes all types of trials (not just treatment trials which is what most cancer patients are interested in), trials for every stage of the disease, and trials in every location.

So, a basic search for most of the common cancers may result in a list of hundreds of results. But the truth is that many of these trials will not apply to you. Trials for patients with stage 1 disease are different than trials for patients with stage 4 disease.

To solve this problem I recommend that when you search each site you do the ADVANCED SEARCH right away. This advanced search will include the basic search but allows you, in addition, to restrict your search further.

In addition to searching for trials that are recruiting patients with the same stage disease, you probably should search for trials in your geographic area. Of course, if you are willing to travel greater distances, you can take this into account.  

                                                     NEXT           PREVIOUS