Cancer clinical trials are a form of research that tests new approaches to prevent, diagnose, or treat the disease in human volunteers. The results of clinical trials can lead to major advancements in science and medicine that can improve health outcomes for many people.
Clinical trials can assess many things, including:
- Preventing or detecting cancer
- New drugs, vaccines, or surgical techniques
- Approaches to preventing or treating the side effects of cancer treatments
- Ways to improve the quality of life of cancer patients
Most clinical trials involving cancer patients study new or combination drugs to ensure they are safe and effective. Having more Black people in cancer clinical trials is the only scientific way to prove whether a new treatment works better for us than current treatments.
Despite the many benefits of cancer clinical trials, there remains an underrepresentation of Black people. Understandably, many are hesitant due to past incidents, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis experiment, which has led to decades of medical mistrust, along with bias in the healthcare system and overall lack of awareness of ongoing clinical trials.
When we’re left out of medical research, we miss the opportunity to see how certain treatments can work in our bodies — especially when it comes to cancer therapies.
If you or a loved one has cancer, joining a clinical trial can be a great way to access high-quality healthcare and treatments that have not yet been released to the public. In addition, you’ll be part of potentially life-saving treatment that can help others living with the same disease.
Here’s what you need to know about participating in cancer clinical trials, and why Black participation is key to overcoming disparities that disproportionately affect our community.
Who Can Participate in Cancer Clinical Trials?
A variety of people can join clinical trials, including patients with illnesses and healthy volunteers, but you’ll still need to meet certain eligibility requirements. These criteria are important for keeping participants safe and ensuring the study results are reliable.
Eligibility criteria for cancer clinical trials may be based on several factors, such as:
- Cancer diagnosis, including stage
- Age
- Previous cancer treatments
- Prior medical history
Why Are Clinical Trials Important for Black People?
We know that race, ethnicity, and genetic background can affect the way patients respond to treatment. As previously mentioned, few Africans Americans join clinical trials for reasons relating to racial discrimination and abuse in previous medical research. As a result, we often don’t know how new drugs will work for us.
Here are a few common reasons why there is an underrepresentation of Black people in cancer clinical trials:
- Lack of awareness and understanding of what a clinical trial is
- Limited or poor healthcare access
- Fear and/or distrust of the medical profession
- Familial and /or cultural reasons
- Past historical wrongdoings, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis study
Why Should I Join a Clinical Trial?
Clinical trials are central to advancing medicine, and progress in cancer treatment depends heavily on volunteers willing to participate.
Research continues to show that Black people are at higher risk for developing certain types of cancer, including breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer — along with lower survival rates and higher death rates. Participating in a clinical trial can help future generations of Black people by introducing new treatments for these cancers that can work more effectively for us.
Clinical trials can also provide hope and treatment options for many patients. When you participate in clinical trials, you gain access to therapies that are not widely available to the public yet. In addition, you’ll receive additional care and attention from an oncologist and the rest of the clinical research team.
And for those who have concerns about the ethical practices of clinical trials, the backlash from the Tuskegee incident has led to the creation of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), and informed consent is now required for every clinical trial to ensure the safety and protection of all participants.
Another benefit of joining a clinical trial is that if you decide that you no longer want to participate, it’s not a big deal. You can easily drop out if you’re worried about potential side effects or aren’t comfortable with the research team. The decision is entirely in your hands.
How to Join Cancer Clinical Trials
Increasing the number of Black people in cancer clinical trials is essential for improving treatment and survival outcomes. If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial, a good starting point is to ask your oncologist. They may have insight into clinical trials currently enrolling participants who may fit your criteria.
Another option is to visit our Clinical Trial Resource Center. We regularly update our database with new clinical trials seeking a diverse group of participants to test new drugs and medical procedures. ClinicalTrials.gov is also a great resource for finding open clinical trials near you.
Final Thoughts
Cancer clinical trials are essential for discovering new, more effective treatments that can improve survival outcomes and improve quality of life. For Black cancer patients, who often face poorer outcomes, we must consider participating in clinical trials. Not only are you getting access to new treatments and high-quality care, but you’ll also be contributing to science that can help others in our community receive better care, leading to better health outcomes overall.
