Clinical trials are how doctors and researchers find new approaches to treat disease. Too often, clinical trials are still seen as only an option once every other treatment has been tried. But research is advancing quickly and clinical trials are increasingly an option for treating cancer, and are covered by most insurance companies.

Yesterday, ASCO released a statement highlighting the importance of phase I clinical trials and Cancer.Net gives detailed information about the purpose, advantages, and considerations for phase I clinical trials.

Why is it important to talk about phase I clinical trials with your doctor? In this podcast, Dr. Jeffrey S. Weber from Moffitt Cancer Center explains the recent statement and provides perspective for reframing the misconceptions that are often associated with clinical trials. In any stage of cancer, it’s important to simply ask your doctor, “Are there any clinical trials open to me, and how can I learn more?” This can open the door to a conversation about all of the treatment options that are available to you.

This prerecorded podcast can be listened to online or downloaded to your computer. A transcript is also available. For more information, visit the Cancer.Net podcast page.