MSCAN asked Gabrielle Byars, CEO of Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials (MASC Trials), to explain clinical trials and what they mean for melanoma and skin cancer patients.

Clinical trials aim to find a better way to manage a particular disease.

Clinical trials are an important part of the strict research and testing process that a new drug, medical treatment, test or other intervention must go through before they are approved by the Australian Government.

Clinical trials are good because they:

• test how people respond to a new medical intervention
• watch the people closely for any side effects
• determine if the new intervention works effectively
• test if the new intervention is safe, and
• figure out if the new intervention is better than the current options available.

The figure below shows the process that clinical trials must follow in Australia. The time involved in each phase will vary between clinical trials and will depend on things like the medical intervention, patients, doctors, nurses and researchers.

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Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials

Many clinical trials in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer are coordinated in Australia by Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials (MASC Trials). A powerful network of health professionals specialising in melanoma and skin cancer working in hospitals, clinics and universities across Australia, collaborate with MASC Trials to design research and clinical trials on breakthrough medical interventions.

The outcomes of the research managed by MASC Trials improve how doctors prevent, diagnose and treat melanoma and skin cancer in Australian and globally, which may benefit patients with these cancers and improve their outcomes.

Can I be part of a clinical trial?

Your doctor knows best. Your doctor can:

• assess your eligibility for a clinical trial
• explain the benefits and risks of being part of a clinical trial
• answer any questions you have
• find a suitable trial in your area
• provide you with a referral letter for the clinical trial which best suits you.

What do I need to know before being part of a clinical trial?

Before participating in a clinical trial, you should ensure you have a thorough understanding of:

• what the clinical trial is investigating
• what your participation will involve
• how your data will be collected and protected
• the length of the trial
• whether you will be required to make multiple visits to the clinic, and
• if there is any follow-up care after the trial has ended.

The clinical trial managers will ask you to sign paperwork to confirm you understand all of these elements. This is called providing ‘informed consent’.

More good things about clinical trials

• For those patients who have tried other treatments unsuccessfully, clinical trials can improve quality of life and provide more time with loved ones
• Some clinical trials use telehealth and some are conducted in regional areas which means more people across Australia can access breakthroughs in medical care without travelling to a capital city.
• By being part of clinical trial, you are participating in important research which has the potential to improve health outcomes for other people with melanoma and skin cancer.

Thanks to Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials CEO, Gabrielle Byars, for helping make clinical trials easier to understand for melanoma and skin cancer patients.

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