Another treatment option for people with bladder cancer is to take part in clinical trials (treatment studies). Doctors conduct clinical trials to learn the effectiveness and side effects of new treatments. In some clinical trials, all patients receive the new treatment. In other trials, doctors compare different therapies by giving the new treatment to one group of patients and the standard therapy to another group.

People who take part in these studies have the first chance to benefit from treatments that have shown promise in earlier research. They also make an important contribution to medical science.

Doctors are studying new ways of treating bladder cancer with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biological therapies, and ways of combining various types of treatment. In addition, some trials are designed to study ways to reduce the side effects of treatment and to improve the quality of life.

Patients who are interested in taking part in a trial should talk with their doctor. They may want to read the National Cancer Institute booklet Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know which explains the possible benefits and risks of clinical trials.

One way to learn about clinical trials is through PDQ, a cancer information database developed by the National Cancer Institute. PDQ contains information about cancer treatment and about clinical trials in progress all over the country. The Cancer Information Service can provide PDQ information to doctors, patients, and the public.