A clinical trial, also known as a research study, is used to answer specific questions about an investigational therapy or to study new ways of using an existing therapy. The purpose of a clinical trial is to determine whether a therapy is both safe and effective in treating humans for a particular disease or condition. This includes looking at the benefits as well as the potential risks of the therapy.

If you decide to participate in a prostate cancer clinical trial, you may obtain expert medical care by leading doctors in the field of cancer research and may gain access to new drugs or treatments not available to other patients.

Also, your general health will be closely monitored and you will be evaluated for any side effects you may experience from therapy. You may be one of the first to benefit from a medication if the treatment is found to be effective and gain personal satisfaction in knowing that you are contributing to the advancement of cancer research. However, there are also risks with participating in a clinical trial.

If you participate in a clinical trial, you may experience side effects to the therapy or procedure. You may receive a therapy that may be less effective than standard therapy. In addition, you may receive a therapy that may be beneficial to others but ineffective for you. Also, you may receive a placebo (sugar pill), but this does not apply to all clinical trials.

You may want to discuss participation in a clinical trial with your physician so that you know all available treatment options to help you make a decision. Your doctor can help you determine if a clinical trial is right for you.