General Medicine

» P_Al - Less Common Cancer Therapies

It is natural for those with advanced cancer to be willing to participate in experimental procedures as part of a clinical trial. Their actions will help to provide answers for generations to come. However, they also stand to benefit from any positive findings resulting from such studies. On the contrary, the decision is much more difficult for those with less to gain.

-- posted by P_Al

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» tinuviel - Less Common Cancer Therapies

In response to Less Common Cancer Therapies posted by P_Al:

I agree with you. A person I know just died of cancer that was found at a very late stage. She wasn't given any medication except painkillers. She wasn't given any hope. I think a person in her situation would have jumped at the chance to participate in a cancer experiment. Even if the risks were to have been high, she would have already been facing death.

You are also right when you say those with less to gain would have greater difficulty making a decision to participate in experimentation. I have a question, though. How much would their participation actually help science? Would it help a lot, say, if a person with a less-advanced form of cancer tried out the new forms of medication for more advanced stages? What would their results predict about the results of a person in the final stages of cancer? Does science even make that distinction?

-- posted by tinuviel

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» P_Al - Less Common Cancer Therapies

In response to Less Common Cancer Therapies posted by tinuviel:

Hi tinuviel

Trials usually involve investigating possible interventions based on the stage of the participant. Generally it would not help if a person with a less-advanced form of cancer 'tried' out a new therapy aim for more advanced stages, unless an unexpected benefit resulted.

However, to the other issue. Many cancers still have room for improvement in terms of etiology (causes), diagnosis and therapy. Therefore, even when there appears to be less to gain, the findings could surprise you. Also, sometimes the benefits will not be for the participants in the syudy, but rather for patients in the future.

-- posted by P_Al

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