CancerHelp®
Essentia Health Cancer Clinical Trials
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The Essentia Health Community Cancer Research Program has been a national leader in clinical trials research for more than 35 years.
Our research is conducted using nationally recognized clinical trials, which offer cancer patients and high-risk populations opportunities to participate in research on cancer treatment and prevention. We have access to these trials through grants from the National Cancer Institute's Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP).
Our participation in NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) means that our oncologists have access to the very latest cancer prevention and treatment research and can use this knowledge to help patients.
Patients benefit from:
- Quality and choice
NCORP offers many of the same trials available at other leading facilities in. We run more than 100 clinical trials, including prevention, cancer control and treatment trials, which are reviewed by experts at the national level and are sponsored by either the National Cancer Institute or leading pharmaceutical companies.
- Experience
Experience in clinical trials makes for better results. In 1984, the then Duluth Clinic Cancer Center pioneered cooperative group clinical trials in the Northland by joining the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) as a founding member at the invitation of Mayo Clinic now known as the Alliance.
- Convenience
Participants in our clinical trials can stay close to their families while receiving the best care available. Our research team also works closely with staff at Essentia Health clinics to ensure study participants receive the same treatments at all our facilities in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota.
Deciding to Take Part in a Clinical Trial
When you need treatment for cancer, you may want to think about joining a clinical trial. Like all treatment options, clinical trials have possible benefits and risks. By looking closely at all options, including clinical trials, you are taking an active role in a decision that affects your life. This section has information you can use when making your decision
Possible Benefits
- You will have access to a new treatment that is not available to people outside the trial.
- The research team will watch you closely.
- If the treatment being studied is more effective than the standard treatment, you may be among the first to benefit.
- The trial may help scientists learn more about cancer and help people in the future.
Possible Risks
- The new treatment may not be better than, or even as good as, the standard treatment.
- New treatments may have side effects that doctors do not expect or that are worse than those of the standard treatment.
- You may be required to make more visits to the doctor than if you were receiving standard treatment. You may have extra expenses related to these extra visits, such as travel and childcare costs.
- You may need extra tests. Some of the tests could be uncomfortable or time consuming.
- Even if a new treatment has benefits in some patients, it may not work for you.
- Health insurance may not cover all patient care costs in a trial
Additional Information:
Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies
Covers things you should know and think about when deciding to take part in a cancer treatment clinical trial.
Video: Participating In Cancer Clinical Trials: Part 1 - What You Need To Know
Part 1 of a National Cancer Institute cancer clinical trials educational video created for people who are considering participation in a trial. The video explains and answers common questions about the types of clinical trials, how they are conducted, and factors to think about when deciding whether or not to participate in a trial. The video also features actual patients who share their reasons and decisions about participating in cancer clinical trials.
Video: Participating In Cancer Clinical Trials: Part 2 - Making Your Decision
Part 2 of a National Cancer Institute cancer clinical trials educational video created for people who are considering participation in a trial. The video explains and answers common questions about the types of clinical trials, how they are conducted, and factors to think about when deciding whether or not to participate in a trial. The video also features actual patients who share their reasons and decisions about participating in cancer clinical trials.To learn more about clinical trials click Learn More below:
CancerHelp Online® is a patient education program of The CancerHelp Institute, an official Content Distribution Partner of the National Cancer Institute. Funding is provided by the Essentia Health Foundation through generous contributions from the Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival.
