These are some of the areas that clinical trials for prostate cancer investigate:
• Prevention
• Screening
• Diagnosis
• Treatments
• How prostate cancer or its treatment affects you and your daily life (quality of life)

There are four phases of clinical trials and scientists who design trials use randomisation and placebos to make sure that trials are fair and reliable. Find more information about the different type of trials, phases and trial design.

Clinical trials are an important and normal part of medicine and taking part is voluntary. But if you are invited to take part in a trial you have to decide whether it suits you. Whether you decide to participate in a trial or not, you should receive the same standard of care. Before making any decisions, find out as much as you can about a trial including its potential advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages
Each trial is different but generally taking part in a trial could mean that you:
• Might have access to newer and perhaps more effective treatments otherwise unavailable outside the trial.
• Have more regular check-ups, tests and support from doctors and nurses than usual. Some people find this very reassuring.
• Help to improve future cancer treatment for others.
• Feel that you are doing something positive about your health and taking an active role in your treatment and recovery.

Disadvantages
• The possible inconvenience of more frequent testing. Some people find this makes them more anxious about their cancer.
• You may not know in advance what side effects you may get from the treatment.
• If the trial is randomised you will not get a choice about which treatment you have.
• As with most treatments, there is the risk that the new treatment may not help you, even if it helps others.

If you decide to take part in a trial the research team will give you the full details of what it will involve. There will be differences between trials, which depend on what the trial is investigating and what type of trial it is. Normally being in a trial will involve:
• Giving your consent
• Filling in forms or questionnaires
• A physical examination before the trial (pre-trial screening)
• Visiting a hospital to have tests or treatments. Sometimes this will take place over a number of years.

You can leave a trial at any stage without giving a reason. Leaving a trial does not mean that you cannot have treatment for your cancer, nor does it mean that health professionals will treat you differently. You will still be given the current standard treatment for your stage of cancer.

If you or those close to you need emotional support before, during or after the clinical trial try speaking to friends, family, GP or other health professionals. You can also call our confidential Helpline. You may also like to sign up to our Online Community, where you can make contact with other men who have been on clinical trials and find out about their experiences.

If you would like to find out about current clinical trials for men with prostate cancer you can:
• Ask your specialist team if there are any local or national trials that may be suitable for you
• Call our free and confidential Helpline
• Search the CancerHelp UK clinical trials database

If you find a trial that you are interested in, take the details to show your specialist team. They can help you decide whether it is likely to be suitable for you.

• Do you know of any clinical trials for prostate cancer that I could go on?
• Can you tell me the possible benefits and risks of taking part in the trial?
• Will I definitely receive the new treatment or procedure?
• What extra tests will I need to have if I go on the trial?
• How long does the trial go on for?
• Will I need to travel to another hospital?
• Will my travel or other expenses be paid back to me?
• What happens if something goes wrong when I am on the trial?
• Am I covered by insurance?
• How much time will I need off work?
• When will the results of the trial be available?
• Where will the trial results be published?
• What support can I get during and after the trial?