MelanomaVaccine.com
Title
Is a Melanoma Vaccine Right for You?
Description
If your doctor suggests that you look into a melanoma clinical trial or research study, it does not mean that your case is hopeless. Many melanoma patients take part in clinical trials and are among the first to benefit from treatments that have shown promise in early research. In fact, all of the melanoma treatments currently available have been tested in clinical trials. This section was put together from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) clinical trial information to help you better understand research studies, why they’re done and how they work. You can visit the NIH website for even more detailed information about clinical trials, or click here to learn more about the Oncophage research study.
WHAT IS A CLINICAL TRIAL?
A research study is a study designed to determine how safe and effective a new therapy is. People who participate in research studies receive excellent medical care and may be able to try promising treatments before they are available to the general public.
WHAT IS A PROTOCOL?
All clinical trials are based on a set of rules called a protocol. A protocol describes what types of people may participate in the study; the schedule of tests, procedures, medications and dosages; and the length of the study. While in a research study, participants are seen regularly by the research staff to monitor their health and to determine the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.
