(Date reviewed: 12/5/2003) - Along with cancer treatment clinical trials (which test whether a new drug or procedure is effective) and prevention trials (which test drugs or other agents to find out if they reduce the risk for cancer), other studies look at ways to improve the quality of life for cancer patients and cancer survivors.
These studies, often called supportive care trials, may study drugs to reduce side effects from chemotherapy and other primary treatments. Problems encountered by cancer patients, such as fatigue, nausea, pain, weight loss, a risk for second cancers, and depression are getting more attention from researchers. Other supportive care studies look for beneficial effects of nutrition, group therapy, and other approaches.
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