PARTICIPATE IN A
CLINICAL TRIAL

Nearly 17,500 individuals have participated in our clinical trials, playing a crucial role in helping researchers develop new and improved treatments and prevention strategies.

While treatments undergo extensive lab testing, they must also be tested in humans to confirm their effectiveness for the intended patient group.

By participating in clinical trials, individuals assist researchers and doctors in understanding how a new treatment works, whether it’s more effective than existing treatments, and what the optimal dosage is.

Clinical trial participants are vital to advancing the development of new treatments and prevention methods. Without volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to develop new breast cancer treatments or prevention strategies.

People choose to participate in clinical trials for many reasons, including:

  • Gaining access to a new treatment or medication before it becomes widely available to all breast cancer patients.
  • Receiving treatment at no cost during the trial.
  • Receiving the best standard treatment in comparison to a new treatment that has shown potential in earlier research.
  • Contributing to medical advancements that may improve treatments and outcomes for future women diagnosed with breast cancer or those at risk.

Participants in clinical trials often receive more intensive monitoring than those on standard treatments, with their progress thoroughly documented. They are also asked to complete questionnaires about their experiences with the trial treatment. This careful tracking ensures that clinical trial results are based on accurate, detailed information, which is then published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

To learn more about how you can participate in our clinical trials, visit our website at www.breastcancertrials.org.au.

    Elissa and the OPTIMA Clinical Trial

    Elissa Simms is a mum of two from Newcastle, Australia and is a participant in the OPTIMA clinical trial.

    OPTIMA aims to find out if using a test called ‘Prosigna’ can help to make safe and accurate decisions about whether or not chemotherapy treatment is needed for participants with ER-positive, HER2-negative, early breast cancer.

    “If the trial is going to be successful, and if it’s going to be a new way forward for women, or even my children when they get to an older age, of having that choice not to have to go through chemotherapy, and have all of the side effects from that, I think it will be a great benefit.”

    Elissa is a Participant in the OPTIMA Clinical Trial.

    Elissa participated in a clinical trial for herself and for future generations and felt that for those who don’t need it as part of their treatment, to not have chemotherapy and worry about the adverse effects of that treatment would be a great outcome.

    “I think that women probably should think about participating in clinical trials because there have been so many great outcomes from previous trials, and if they don’t put themselves out there to try something, then we’re not going to know how good treatment could be, or how it can increase a patient’s quality of life.”