Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

Breast cancer clinical trials offer new ways to treat breast cancer and enhance patient outcomes. As a recognized leader in the development of scientific advances for preventing, diagnosing and treating breast cancer, Moffitt Cancer Center is continually performing groundbreaking research, lead by the Breast Program Research Director Dr. Heather Han, who is also a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer. Our research initiatives allow us to offer our patients a wide range of treatment options, including a variety of clinical trials.

The Importance of Clinical Trials

These promising studies comprise a long and meticulous research process that begins in a laboratory and progresses through an extensive, multi-step testing procedure before being made available to the general public. They help to develop new standards for treatment and allow doctors and researchers to have a broader understanding of diseases and how to treat them. Clinical trials can also help doctors find new ways to diagnose certain conditions and how individuals can reduce their chances of developing them.

Breast Cancer Clinical Trials at Moffitt

At Moffitt, the health and safety of our patients is always our top priority. Patients are carefully selected for participation in breast cancer clinical trials. Even if one or more research studies are available to treat a patient’s specific type of cancer, the patient may or may not qualify based on a number of factors, such as:

• Age
• Gender
• Cancer stage
• Overall health and wellness
• Other health conditions
• Past cancer treatments

If a patient is deemed eligible for a clinical trial, the decision on whether to participate is highly personal and should be made with the guidance of a physician. During a consultation, a physician will generally discuss the treatment, explain what can be expected to happen and describe the care the patient will receive. The patient will be invited to ask specific questions, such as how the study might affect his or her everyday life.

Breast cancer clinical trials can require a patient to undergo additional tests, see a physician more often and mandate more of the patient’s time. For these reasons, participants are required to sign informed consent forms to confirm that they were provided with all of the facts prior to deciding to take part in a study. Many clinical trial participants feel that the quality of care and attention that they receive are well worth the extra time and other commitments. 

To learn more about the breast cancer clinical trials currently available at Moffitt, contact us at 1-813-745-6100 or 1-800-679-0775 (toll-free) or submit a clinical trials inquiry form. We welcome patients with or without a referral.

Helpful Links:

• Patients from Clearwater, FL
• Patients from St. Petersburg, FL