Patient-to-Patient: What to Expect in a Clinical Trial

August 2, 2016
Janet Freeman-Daily
Janet Freeman-Daily

Janet Freeman-Daily is a writer, speaker, science geek and epatient with metastatic lung cancer. She uses her systems engineering background to translate the experience and science of lung cancer treatment and research into language other patients can understand. She comoderates the Lung Cancer Social Media (#LSCM) Chat on Twitter and blogs at www.grayconnections.wordpress.com.

Janet Freeman-Daily, patient advocate and CURE contributor, discusses some key points that patients should know about enrolling in clinical trials.

Janet Freeman-Daily, patient advocate and CURE contributor, discusses some key points that patients should know about enrolling in clinical trials.

Freeman-Daily says that clinical trials are especially important for patients like her who have metastatic lung cancer, for which there is currently no cure but a number of options and clinical trials that may benefit patients.

Before joining a clinical trial, patients should know their risk and understand the difference between each of the three phases of clinical trials. Also, patients should never think that they may not be treated in a clinical trial. Even if randomized to placebo, they will always get the best standard of care.