What Black Women Need to Know About Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trials

Ovarian cancer is an abnormal growth of cells or tumors in the ovaries. Some forms of ovarian cancer are more aggressive than others, like high-grade serous ovarian cancer, which is common and fast-spreading. Ovarian cancer clinical trials are essential in advancing cancer treatment options for current and future patients. But what do clinical trials entail, and could it be right for you? Here’s what to know to understand ovarian cancer clinical trials.  What are Clinical Trials?  Clinical trials test possible new medical treatments, diagnoses, and prevention methods. “Researchers are constantly looking for new and better ways to prevent and treat disease,” says Dr. Kristina A. Butler, MD, a Gynecologic Oncologist with the Mayo Clinic.  Clinical trials for cancer rely on volunteer participants so researchers can gather new knowledge to improve patient care. Dr. Butler adds that treatments could be new drugs combinations or new surgical procedures.  Clinical trials also seek to better understand the potential side effects, safety, and efficacy of a new treatment or detection method. “Drugs, treatments, and devices move through four different levels of testing that are called phases,” says Aleya Lyn, MS, BSN, RN, OCN, a clinical trials nurse at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in...