Clinical trials are research studies in which people volunteer to test new drugs or procedures to help doctors find new treatments for serious diseases, such as cancer.

Medical breakthroughs often make the news, but you usually don't hear about the clinical trials themselves that lead to these advancements.

Even after a drug has been approved for use against a type of cancer, doctors sometimes find it works better when given a certain way or when combined with other treatments. It may even work on a different kind of cancer.

Clinical trials are needed to study all these possibilities. Patient safety is a major concern because this is usually the first time the treatment has been used for people. For this reason, doctors monitor patients very closely while in the study.

Prevention trials utilize medicine, vitamins, minerals or other supplements that may decrease the risk of getting a specific type of cancer. Deciding whether or not to take part in a clinical trial is a personal decision. There is no right or wrong answer, and not all patients qualify for every trial.

Your doctor should be able to provide information about current trials that may apply to specific conditions.