small doses
eating
well
clinical trials:
ann
louise should you join one?
atherton
In a clinical trial, a new drug, during your trial, but all studies
medical device or technique is involving life-threatening diseases,
rigorously tested to see how safe such as cancer, must provide
and effective it is. Right now, the participants with a standard
National Institutes of Health (NIH) approved and accepted treatment,
is conducting more than 80,000 explains Andrea Denicoff, R.N., a
studies, on everything from clinical trials specialist at the
tonsillitis to cancer. While you may National Cancer Institute. If the aim
stay connected
benefit personally from trying a is to test the effectiveness of a new
new treatment, David Henderson, drug for treating liver cancer, for
Free patient websites make it simple to keep M.D., deputy director for clinical instance, the study group would
family and friends up-to-date. care at the NIH Clinical Center, in receive the best-known standard
Bethesda, Maryland, says the treatments plus the new drug; the
“Call me as soon as you can.” Mary Beth payoff extends to others as well. placebo group would receive
Atherton and her husband Andrew “There’s a large benefit to society. standard treatments and a placebo.
heard that request again and again When people participate in clinical
from well-wishers as Mary Beth trials we gain a deep understanding Will insurance cover the cost?
prepped for surgery in November of medical conditions and treat- Research sponsored by the NIH is
2008. Eight days earlier, the North ments.” How do you know if a completely paid for by American
Carolina couple had learned that their clinical trial is right for you? Here taxpayers. It’s important to check
unborn baby girl had critical aortic are answers to some common with your health insurance provider
stenosis, which would have caused her questions: if you’re participating in a cancer
to be born with half a heart. Their only study, though, says Denicoff. The
hope: immediate fetal intervention What are the benefits? standard chemotherapy and
l
e
heart surgery. “It was very scary,” You’ll have possible access to the radiation treatment included in
a
d
recalls Mary Beth. “And it was hard to latest drugs and therapies before every study is usually paid for by
i
p
p
e
n
have to repeat the story over and over.” they’re available to the public, close insurance (study drugs are free), but
h
_
c
n
Thankfully, the surgery was a monitoring of your treatment some providers consider even
a
d
/

success. And eventually the Athertons (including side effects) and a chance approved therapy to be “experimen-
m
o
found a better way to communicate to learn more about your condition. tal” when given in a clinical trial and
.
c
o
t
with friends and family: Caringbridge. will not pay for it.
o
p
h
What are the risks?
k
org, a nonprofit organization offering
c
o
free patient websites to connect loved Keep in mind that a lot of testing Can I quit the study?
i
s
t
©
ones during a serious health problem. takes place before human beings are Yes. “In any clinical trial a person
l
;

a
So when their daughter Ann Louise, studied, Henderson says. But that can withdraw at any time, for any
s
p
i
t
now a happy 2-year-old, went through doesn’t mean there isn’t some risk, reason, without penalty,” Hender-
o

h
additional surgeries after she was born, including the possibility of side son says. “That’s your right.”
l
d
f
i
e
the Athertons could log on, post a effects, ranging from mild discom-
m
o
journal entry and instantly keep fort to possible death in some cases, How do I find a trial?
l
o

b
hundreds of people up-to-date. “It’s a as well as the chance you’ll get a Start by asking your doctor if there’s e
s
t

w
great lifeline,” says Mary Beth, as well less effective treatment than what a clinical trial that’s right for you. Or
d
r
as a way to connect with other you would have normally gotten. search the NIH database of federal
n
o
y

f
o
t
r
families. “There are times when you and private studies listed by e
r
e
n
h
feel all alone, and then you Is it possible I’ll get a placebo? condition at clinicaltrials.gov. If
f

h
e
.

a
t
y

o
to set up your see that people have A placebo is an inactive version of you’re looking specifically for a
y

r
e
s
t
a r
own site go to:
written, I’m praying for the medication or treatment that’s cancer study, log on to the National
u
f

m
o
•
Caringbridge.org you. Just to have the being studied. It’s possible you could Cancer Institute site at cancer.gov/ p
:

c
e
s
y

o
o
•
Carepages.com encouragement and get a placebo treatment or drug clinicaltrials.
t
t
r
u
m
support is so wonderful.”
o
o
c f
r
6 the patient magazine 2010
PT005__0FVP0_SP10smalldoses.indd 6 2/11/10 7:48 AM
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