How to Find Testicular Cancer Treatment Trials

Coping with a diagnosis of testicular cancer means taking action to restore your health. Today, doctors have several treatment options for this disease, and researchers continue to investigate new treatments. You may be able to participate in clinical trials or studies in which doctors test new drugs or other therapies on people with the disease.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Arm yourself with knowledge. Testicular cancer is a fairly uncommon form of cancer affecting less than 8,000 men in America each year. The majority of those who are diagnosed are Caucasian and between the ages of 20 and 34. It is very rare for men of African or Asian descent to be affected by this disease.
2. Know why doctors may be looking for a new treatment. Studies are generally conducted to determine the efficacy of a new treatment compared to existing treatments. They may also conduct research to determine whether a new treatment will produce fewer side effects and provide patients with a better quality of life.
3. Learn about the clinical trial process. Clinical trials have a 3-stage process beginning with a stage in which studies are run to determine how best to administer new drugs. The process then proceeds to tests wherein large doses of the medication are administered to a limited number of patients to determine the extent of side effects. The final phase involves testing the new drug alongside a control group, which may be administered a placebo drug.
4. Visit the American Cancer Society's clinical trial matching service Web site to see if you qualify to participate in an upcoming trial (see "Resources" below). You may also call their offices at 1-800-303-5691 to learn more.
5. Be prepared to adjust your schedule and lifestyle to accommodate the demands of a clinical trial. You will typically be asked to follow dosage directions exactly, answer questions about your experiences during and after the clinical trial and participate in one or more follow-up appointments after you have stopped taking the medication.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are interested in participating in clinical trials, ask your doctor about them soon after you are diagnosed. Sometimes clinical trials limit participation to those who have not already undergone treatment.
• As a patient, you have the right to actively participate in the decisions regarding your care and treatment. Participation in a clinical trial for the treatment of testicular cancer is entirely voluntary, and you have the right to choose not to participate.
• A cancer diagnosis can bring sweeping change to your life. If you find that you are overwhelmed by grief or despair, seek medical attention from a trained mental health professional.

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