Clinical trials are research studies that are done to investigate new treatments through the observation of patients. By observing how many patients respond on the tested therapy, researchers can confirm whether or not new treatments are beneficial for patients. Many clinical trials are currently in progress and taking part in a clinical trial may provide valuable information to help researchers make advancements in treatment possible. In some cases, patients who participate in a trial may benefit from receiving cutting edge treatments resulting in an improvement in a patient’s quality of life that cannot be achieved by standard therapy.

If you are considering a clinical trial it is important to establish that the proposed treatment is a better choice for you compared to your current treatment. It is essential to discuss the trial very carefully with your physician. Since pancreatic cancer is a rare disease, many trials have difficulty recruiting sufficient numbers of patients and are constantly looking for new entrants.