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First Steps After Diagnosis of Cancer
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| Welcome
to The Cancer Information Network |
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Booklet: What You Need to Know about
Laryngeal Cancer |
Treatment Studies
Researchers are looking for treatment methods that are more effective
against cancer of the larynx and have fewer side effects. When laboratory
research shows that a new method has promise, it is used to treat cancer
patients in clinical trials.
These trials are designed to find out whether the new approach is both safe
and effective and to answer scientific questions. Patients who take part in
clinical trials make an important contribution to medical science and may
have the first chance to benefit from improved treatment methods.
Many clinical trials of new treatments for cancer of the larynx are under
way. Doctors are studying new types and schedules of radiation therapy, new
drugs, new drug combinations, and new ways of combining various types of
treatment. Scientists are trying to increase the effectiveness of radiation
therapy by giving treatments twice a day instead of once. Also, they are
studying drugs called "radiosensitizers." These drugs make the
cancer cells more sensitive to radiation.
People who have had cancer of the larynx have an increased risk of
getting a new cancer in the larynx or in the lungs, mouth, or throat.
Doctors are looking for ways to prevent these new cancers. Some research has
shown that a drug related to vitamin A may protect people from new cancers.
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 treatment studies.
One way to learn about clinical trials is through PDQ,
a computerized resource 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.
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