Breast Cancer Clinical Trials: Is One Right for You?

According to the National Institutes of Health's Web site, there are currently nearly 24,000 clinical trials in progress. About half are funded and run by universities and other organizations, such as foundations (e.g., the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is supporting 11 trials). About 25% are government-sponsored, and 25% are developed, supported, and run by industry, mainly pharmaceutical companies. There are 937 clinical trials currently recruiting breast cancer patients. What's the best way to find out about any of these trials–the purpose of the trial, your eligibility, and whether you can join? At the NIH's clinical trials Web site.

After considering the pros and cons, and deciding a clinical trial is right for you, ask your oncologist if there’s anything you can try. If you want to go armed with information, the American Cancer Society has a place on their Web site where you can match your diagnosis to current trials. Check out their clinical trials matching service.