Clinical Trial Facts Below is some important information you should know about clinical trials in melanoma: • M ost melanoma clinical trials provide either the best treatment option OR a new, and possibly better, treatment option. Many trials even combine the standard therapy with a new treatment. • T rials help physicians determine which patients should receive which drugs in which order (sequence). • T rials give you access to therapies that are not yet approved by the FDA but that are, oftentimes, more effective in the treatment of melanoma. • T rials often give you greater control over your care. • It is free to participate in clinical trials and you often have more diagnostic tests while participating than you otherwise would have during regular treatment. • Y ou can choose to stop participating in a trial at any time. Follow Up As with other stages of diagnosis, skin exams to evaluate for a new melanoma or other skin cancer should continue. Your dermatologist or oncologist may recommend professional appointments every 3–6 months and self-skin exams at home should be performed every month. A variety of diagnostic tests will also be performed regularly.
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