At For the Breast of Us, we believe increasing representation of women of color in clinical trials is one sure way to help close the health disparity gap. That’s why we’ve partnered with our friends at the Fred Hutch Office of Community Engagement to answer your questions about clinical trials and give you a clear understanding of how they work and how your participation helps not only you, but every woman affected by breast cancer.

While many of conversations about clinical trials center on metastatic breast cancer, it’s important to note there are numerous types of clinical trials and medical research opportunities for various cancer experiences. The Fred Hutch Office of Community Engagement shines light on the different types of clinical trials.

• Are clinical trials only for people with metastatic breast cancer?

There are clinical trials offered for different stages of breast cancer other than metastatic breast cancer. Here are other stages of breast cancer that a patient can look at clinical trials for:

1. Locally advanced – cancer that has spread from where it started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes

2. Inflammatory breast cancer

3. Locoregional recurrent breast cancer – cancer that has come back after treatment in the breast, in the chest wall, or in nearby lymph nodes

Same goes for different stages of almost all types of cancer. For some patients, taking part in a clinical trial may be the best treatment choice. Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after starting their cancer treatment. Additionally, there are other types of clinical trials for cancers that may look at symptom management or prevention.

Since we are talking about breast cancer, most clinical trials for breast cancer are for patients that have already failed at least first line treatment. There are trials available before it is a last resort, but generally, breast cancer patients must have gone through at least first line standard treatment (lumpectomy + radiation, mastectomy, surgery + chemo if TNBC etc.).

• Do you have to have cancer or a history of cancer to participate in a trial?

This is a great question and one of the reasons why we want to inform our communities of color whom cancers tend to have a greater impact on. For a cancer treatment clinical trial, you absolutely need to have a cancer diagnosis to participate. However, as previously mentioned, there are other clinical trial options that look at ways to reduce your risk of developing cancer.

Prevention clinical trials are studies where participants either do not have cancer but are at high risk or have had cancer and are at high risk for developing a new cancer—not a recurrence of the same cancer. These studies look at cancer risk and ways to reduce that risk. There are two types of prevention trials:

1. Action studies: participants are asked to take or do something. For example: exercise or follow a special diet

2. Agent studies: participants are asked to take something like certain medicines, vitamins, minerals, or dietary supplements to find whether they may lower risk of a certain type of cancer.

Ultimately, researchers want to know how safe is it for a person to take this agent, doing this activity, and does this new approach prevent cancer?

Just like cancer treatment trials, there are still safety protocols prevention trials must abide by and go through Institutional Review Boards. Here are some things to consider:

1. Benefits vs risk: You will see a health care provider and still see your own doctor, but the medicines or vitamins may have side effects, or you may not lower your chances of getting cancer.

2. Costs and time: There are always costs and some health insurance may cover some associated costs. Speak with your doctor, nurse, or social worker about costs before you decide to join.

3. The why: Why are you wanting to join this trial? Even if there is or isn’t a family history of cancer, you can always talk to your medical provider about your risks or be referred to a genetic counselor.

Our participation, as people of color, is important to finding more information as to why we have higher incidence rates and how we can help our marginalized communities.

To learn more about clinical trials, visit breastofus.com/clinical-trials.

*All clinical trial related content was obtained from the National Cancer Institute at www.cancer.gov

About The Fred Hutch Office of Community Engagement

The Office of Community Outreach & Engagement (OCOE) is housed within the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium. The OCOE is dedicated to cancer prevention and to reduce/eliminate barriers to cancer care and support. Our four community health educators and advocates: Dillon van Rensberg, Liszet Bigelow, Danté Morehead, and Craig Dee (Diné), are focused on connecting with partners in public health, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC’s), community-based organizations, communities, and researchers to address cancer-health disparities and inequities here in Western Washington. The OCOE brings together years of health disparities research, experience, and leadership in addressing cancer prevention and education.