LMH Health Cancer Center Patient

Is a Clinical Trial Right for You?

Talk to your doctor about your interest in joining a clinical trial or call the LMH Health Cancer Center at 785-505-2800 to get more information.

Clinical Trials

Advance cancer care by participating in cancer research and clinical trials close to home through LMH Health. Medical research helps manage and cure disease, improve quality of life and live longer. 

Delivering High-Quality, Convenient Cancer Care

We partner with The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s outreach network called the Masonic Cancer Alliance (MCA). This relationship means you do not have to travel far to participate in advanced clinical trials. LMH Health doctors and patients gain access to clinical trials, the latest prevention, early detection and screening tools, treatments and survivorship methods. 

What are Clinical Trials?

Clinical trials test how new medications or treatments work. When you join a clinical trial, you’ll have access to new drugs and treatments. You also can contribute to medical knowledge that may improve your cancer care and help future patients navigate the disease. 

Clinical Trials Background

At LMH Health Cancer Center has been providing clinical trials since 2003. Today we offer about 50 trials across a wide range of cancer types. Our team of board-certified oncologists and hematologists, together with our oncology-certified nurses, can answer your questions about clinical trials and all other aspects of cancer care.

Participating in Clinical Trials

Each clinical trial has different eligibility requirements. Criteria factors include your:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Type and stage of disease
  • Previous treatment history
  •  Other medical conditions

Your doctor can determine your eligibility for trials related to your cancer type. 

Are Clinical Trials Safe?

The National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration monitor all clinical trials following strict rules. Before a clinical trial can begin, it must be approved by an institutional review board (IRB). The IRB is made up of medical specialists, nurses, and other professionals serving as patient advocates. The IRB only approves a clinical trial that tries to answer medically important questions in scientifically responsible ways.

Receiving Care

You’ll get care in the same way you would with standard cancer treatment during a clinical trial. Your doctors, nurses, and other professionals will care for you, keep you informed about your treatment, and measure your progress. You need to follow your care team’s instructions to ensure reliable results. 

Informed Consent

Participation in clinical research is voluntary. Before joining a clinical trial, a research team member will meet with you to review eligibility, risks, benefits and details of care and treatment. You will receive a consent form that explains the trial. Before signing the form, read it carefully, ask questions, and make sure you understand it. You are free to change your mind and withdraw from the clinical trial at any time.

Benefits & Drawbacks of Clinical Trial Participation

By participating in a clinical trial, you will:

  • Contribute to cancer research to help future cancer patients
  • Get access to new treatments not available elsewhere
  • Get regular, careful medical attention from a highly qualified care team

New treatments aren’t always better than standard treatments. Depending on your type and stage of cancer, you may have to visit the doctor more often and have more blood drawn for laboratory tests.

Insurance coverage for cancer clinical trials varies by policy. Some health plans may not cover all costs. Before joining a clinical trial, ask your insurance provider what is covered. Some state and federal programs may help you pay for expenses associated with clinical trials.

Clinical Trial Phases

There are four phases of clinical trials.

  • Phase 1 – First step in testing a new treatment approach in people. It determines the drug’s safety, dosage, how patients tolerate it, and whether they have side effects. Phase 1 usually involves small groups of patients. This phase takes place outside of LMH Health.
  • Phase 2 – Tests the safe dosage of a drug or treatment in a larger group of patients. Researchers define side effects, learn how the body uses the drug, and discover how it helps the condition.
  • Phase 3 – Compares the new treatment to a commonly used treatment. Some participants receive the new drug, while others receive the commonly used treatment. Researchers determine if the new treatment is better than, the same as, or worse than the standard treatment. This phase may involve hundreds or even thousands of patients at multiple centers.
  • Phase 4 – Takes place once the new treatment is approved for standard use and put on the market. We do not conduct phase four clinical trials at LMH Health.