Your doctor may suggest that you participate in a clinical trial. This type of study evaluates new drugs or devices as well as the order or dose of existing drug treatments.
Participating in a clinical trial has several advantages. You have the opportunity to be treated with drugs or devices that have been tested for safety and are not widely available. Your symptoms and general condition will also be monitored more often and more closely than during regular treatment.
Clinical studies are typically designed to test how a treatment works among patients with specific characteristics, so not everyone will be eligible. Your doctor can give you all the information you need about participating in a trial. It is also important to know that you can stop your participation at any time. You will not need to explain your reasons.