Participate in Supportive Care Trials
Supportive care trials look for ways to reduce symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment side effects.
What are supportive care clinical trials?
Supportive care clinical trials look at ways to reduce symptoms caused by cancer, prevent or reduce side effects due to cancer treatment, and improve the quality of life of people with cancer.
Other supportive care clinical trials address ways to improve psychological and social wellbeing. And others may attempt to help families and caregivers cope with their own needs, as well as those of their loved ones with cancer.
Who can join a supportive care trial?
Like all clinical trials, supportive care trials have certain eligibility requirements for joining. Your doctor or nurse might ask you to join a trial aimed at treating symptoms of cancer or side effects of cancer treatment, such as fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, or pain.
If you are interested in taking part in a supportive care clinical trial, talk to your doctor. Or you can ask your healthcare team if they know of a supportive care clinical trial for a side effect or cancer-related problem that you are having.
What to expect
Supportive care trials that are looking for ways reduce symptoms of cancer or cancer treatment may require extra lab work, scans, tests, and doctor visits. These trials may test medicines or ways to manage symptoms without medicines, such as yoga, massage, or acupuncture.
For some supportive care trials, you may be able take part by filling out surveys online or through telehealth visits.
Your rights
The study staff will talk with you before you join a trial and tell you all about the study. They will answer all your questions. For ideas on questions to ask, see Questions to ask before joining a clinical trial.
Once you understand the study and decide to take part, you will be asked to sign a consent form. But even after you sign the form, you can change your mind and leave the study at any time. Learn more about informed consent in clinical trials.
Costs and expenses
Supportive care trials may be covered by the study, Medicare, Medicaid, and some private insurers. Sometimes there are out-of-pocket costs. Learn more about clinical trial costs and who pays.