clinical trials in breast cancer

Australian research indicates that younger women are more likely than older women to be informed about, and offered the opportunity to participate in, clinical trials.58

Clinical trials are an essential component of the process of finding better treatments for breast cancer, and it is appropriate for clinicians to discuss participation in clinical trials with women. Evidence suggests that women who participate in clinical trials have better survival outcomes than women given similar treatment outside trials (Level III).59 A high participation rate will enable outstanding research questions to be answered more quickly. Information about trials for which younger women may be eligible is available from the Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (www.anzbctg.org) and the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre (www.ctc.usyd.edu.au).