Breast Cancer Treatment - When new drugs are tested, patients sometimes receive a “dummy pill.”

iVillage Total Health - Cancer Center

Home

Member Log In

Increase Type Size

Conditions & Diseases Drugs & Medications Procedures & Tests Prevention & Wellness

Find a therapist near you

City or Zip Code:

Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Treatment

When new drugs are tested, patients sometimes receive a “dummy pill.”

Clinical trials must be performed before a drug can be recommended to the general public. These studies usually involve giving one group of patients the drug being investigated and another group an inactive substance called a placebo. This enables investigators to see if the drug is safe and effective. Sometimes the patients and the study investigators are unaware of who is taking the drug and who is taking the placebo. Investigators try to make sure that the people in both groups are similar in terms of age, type of disease and past treatment history, so that the trial results are as valid as possible.

Trials are usually designed to last for a set period of time that will allow the investigators to gather enough information about the drug’s safety and effectiveness. Although it is rare, studies can be halted early if a drug appears to be working well. This way doctors can offer all patients the opportunity to benefit from the drug.

RELATED PROGRAMS

Video - How to Make Sense of Clinical Trials Transcript

Advertisement

Copyright Healthology, Inc., an iVillage Company providing health information
Privacy Policy - Disclaimer - Editorial & Sponsorship Policy
We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify here

Copyright © 2000-2007 iVillage Total Health. All rights reserved. The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.

We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify here.