Extra visits, tests and procedures may not always fit in with your personal schedule. Every effort is made to accommodate your schedule while also meeting the requirements of the clinical trial protocol.
There may be additional costs to you, such as parking. You can seek help for parking expenses through social services at the Juravinski Cancer Centre and the Volunteer Association’s volunteer drivers. For more information, visit the Canadian Cancer Society for support and services.
Some other types of medications may be restricted while on a clinical trial, such as herbal remedies or alternative medicine. Be sure to talk with your oncologist and nurse about all of your current medications.
You may need to have a wash out period.
You may need to complete extra paperwork throughout a clinical trial, such as questionnaires or pill diaries.
You do have responsibilities when taking part in a clinical trial, such as:
Trying your best to stick to the schedule of clinic visits, tests, and procedures
You may have to keep a diary
You will need to return unused pills and pill bottles, i.e. if the trial treatment is in pill form
You usually cannot start another cancer treatment at the same time and may have to stop or switch some of your current medications
Letting your oncologist and nurse know about:
Any side effects
New symptoms
Trouble taking the treatment
Any changes to your health or medications
Any other doctor visits
Questions or concerns
If you want to stop taking part
In a randomized clinical trial where you are assigned a new treatment or standard treatment based on chance, you might not get the new treatment but you will at least get the best standard treatment and you are still a very important part of the trial.
In cases where the standard treatment is watching your health (there is no active treatment), a placebo< may be used. You are always told what your chances are of receiving a placebo.
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