Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that use human volunteers in an attempt to better diagnose, treat and prevent diseases. These trials are efficient ways for health professionals to decide how to safely and effectively treat diseases such as cancer.
Trials are broken up into four phases:
The majority of the clinical trials at the Cancer Center are Phase II or Phase III studies.
Deciding to take part in a clinical trial may be a difficult decision. Make sure to educate yourself fully before participating in a clincal trial.
Not everyone is eligible to participate in a clinical trial. Criteria for each study varies and may include factors such as age, type and stage of disease and previous medical history.
Benefits of clinical trials include:
Risks may include the following:
Dorothy E. Schneider Cancer Center
Dorothy E. Schneider Cancer Center is affiliated with three other Sutter Health institutions; Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, California Pacific Medical Center, and Marin General Hospital. This group is called the Sutter Health Western Division Cancer Research Group. By cooperating together, Mills-Peninsula can centralize general research logistics, share information and provide a larger enrollment base for the clinical trials. As a result, we are actively recruiting for over 50 clinical trials including several for breast, lung, and prostate cancer.
For general information on cancer clinical trials, visit the National Library of Medicine’s database at the National Institute of Health and the National Cancer Institute.
For information on current Mills-Peninsula clinical trials, visit the Robert C. Siegel Library at Mills Health Center or contact Jami Brown, Cancer Research Coordinator, (650) 696-4487, brownj8@sutterhealth.org.
