What should I ask my doctor about clinical trials?

If you’re thinking about joining a clinical trial, it’s good to ask some questions to help you decide. This page has some suggested questions. You can take this list to your appointment. You can also have a friend or relative with you for support.

There are questions about

Questions about finding a trial

Are there any trials I could enter that are for my type and stage of cancer?
Do you know of any trials looking at new therapies or treatments?
Is there anywhere else I can look for information about trials?

You can search for trials on our clinical trials database.

Questions to ask before joining a trial

Why is this trial is being done?
What are the possible benefits and risks of taking part?
What are the different treatment groups in the trial?
How are patients allocated to the different groups?
How long will I have treatment for?
How many people will take part in this trial?
What will I have to do if I take part?
Will I need extra tests, scans or hospital visits?
Will I have to spend more time in hospital?
How often will I have follow up appointments after I finish treatment?
How will I find out about the results of the trial?
What are my treatment options if I decide not to take part?

Go to information about what you should know about joining a trial.

Questions about how trials are run

Can I take notes or record the meetings with my healthcare team?
Who will be allowed to see my medical records and personal information?
What information about me will be stored?
Who will be told that I'm taking part in a trial?
Can I claim expenses, such as travel costs?
Who makes sure that the trial is safe and going as planned?

Questions about safety of trials

What are the possible side effects?
What happens if I get side effects?
Who can I contact in an emergency?
Can I leave the trial at any time?
Am I covered by insurance if things go wrong?
Is there anything I'm not allowed to do while I am in the trial?
Are there any supplements or medicines I shouldn't take while I am in the trial?
Am I covered by insurance if there is an unexpected problem?

Find out about safety in clinical trials.

The video below shows patients talking about their experiences of taking part in a clinical trial. It’s about 3 minutes long.