Are Clinical Trials Dangerous and Exploratory?

This​ episode features Anna DeSalvo, MS, CGC, who is a Patient Education Specialist with the Jason Carter Clinical Trials Program (JCCTP) operated by Be The Match. In addition to keeping the JCCTP clinical trial search tool up-to-date and creating educational content, Anna regularly assists patients in any part of the clinical trial search process.

Time to bust another myth, and maybe save some lives. Did you know that by the time a treatment gets to the point where it’s a clinical trial being offered for humans, a lot of testing has already been done? There are multiple pre-clinical tests that are done in labs and often in animal models to be as sure as possible that they will be safe in humans.

In fact, clinical trial doctors and staff watch patients very closely. Patients’ safety is their number one priority. Any reactions to medication are documented very thoroughly and appropriate follow-up is taken. Some patients have reported that they felt like they had even better care in a clinical trial than standard care because of this extra attention to detail.

Many clinical trials are not looking at brand new treatments. Rather, they are looking at ways to improve existing treatments. There are serious risks and side effects associated with blood or marrow transplants, so many researchers are looking at ways to make them safer and more effective.

The information in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your health care provider regarding your medical decisions and treatment. The listed resources are not intended to be endorsements.

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