Clinical trials test the safety and benefits of new treatments, as well as new combinations (or new doses) of standard treatments. They can also study diagnostic methods, risk reduction options and screening tests.

Improvements in the treatment of breast cancer over the past 40 years have come from the results of clinical trials. For example, clinical trials showed the benefit of hormone therapies and trastuzumab in breast cancer treatment and these drugs are now part of the standard of care. Findings from large randomized clinical trials are viewed as the best evidence for making treatment guidelines.

Women at higher risk or those diagnosed with breast cancer are encouraged to consider joining a clinical trial. Breast cancer treatment trials compare the effectiveness of a new treatment versus an established treatment. These trials offer the chance to try new treatments and possibly benefit from them. In addition, they provide an opportunity to add to the body of knowledge that may benefit others with breast cancer in the future.

Some people worry they will get a placebo instead of an effective treatment in a clinical trial. Breast cancer trials never use a placebo instead of standard treatment.

In some trials, everyone gets the new treatment. Most often in a breast cancer treatment clinical trial, you will get either the new treatment or the standard treatment. So, even if you do not get the new drug (or other new therapy), your breast cancer will be treated just as it would if you were not in the trial. Sometimes, you may get the standard treatment plus a placebo rather than the standard treatment plus the new treatment that’s being studied. Your health care provider or the clinical research staff can tell you if there is a placebo in the study.

A person with breast cancer should consider joining a clinical trial before starting treatment because once a standard treatment regimen has begun, it may be more difficult to join a clinical trial. A person with metastatic breast cancer should consider joining a clinical trial when their oncologist is considering changing treatment, before starting a new treatment or when there are limited treatment options.

People interested in joining a clinical trial should discuss it with their health care provider. They can discuss the pros and cons of participating in a study, identify trials that an individual is eligible for and help in contacting a study coordinator who can guide them through the enrollment process.