8 out of 10 Welsh people support cancer clinical trials - but Cancer Research Wales warns of missed opportunity to advance research into cancer
Cancer Research Wales is releasing the figures to raise awareness of clinical trials which are potentially life-saving and life-prolonging
Almost 8 out of 10 people in Wales (78%) think clinical trials for cancer are a good thing to take part in, according to a new survey released today by Cancer Research Wales.
The survey - ‘Attitudes towards clinical trials in Wales’ was carried out by Beaufort Research, and it also reveals that:
- Over 9 out of 10 people (94%) say helping future patients would be an important reason for them to take part in a cancer clinical trial
- Over 9 out of 10 people (92%) say contributing to scientific knowledge would be an important reason for them to take part in a cancer clinical trial.
- Almost 9 out of 10 people (88%) say benefitting their own care would be an important reason for them to take part in a cancer clinical trial.
Dr Lee Campbell - Head of Research at Cancer Research Wales said:
“As the Welsh cancer research charity and a leading funder of clinical trials into cancer in Wales, we know that clinical trials are essential in the development of both pioneering new treatments for and earlier diagnosis of cancer.
“Clinical trials also allow patients the opportunity to be among the first people to benefit from new treatments and so it’s very encouraging that the people of Wales are so supportive of the need for this potentially life-saving and life-prolonging research.”
But Cancer Research Wales is warning that despite strong public support for clinical trials into cancer, only a relatively low number of patients are offered the chance to take part in medical research for cancer.
Dr Lee Campbell explains:
“As few as 1 in 5 (20%) of people who have cancer are actually offered the chance to take part in clinical trials and other types of medical research for the disease here in Wales - clearly, this is a missed opportunity to advance research into cancer in Wales, develop new treatments and give more people quicker access to them.
“This is why we would like to see more widespread use of clinical trials and other medical research in Wales for treating and diagnosing cancer as the benefits of doing this would clearly be significant both for the Welsh public, their friends and loved ones as well as our health system.”
Cancer Research Wales is currently funding four clinical trials in Wrexham, Swansea and Cardiff.
One of these trials is looking to improve bowel cancer detection while another is aimed at preventing bowel cancer relapse. The third clinical trial funded by Cancer Research Wales is researching better treatments for head and neck cancers. The fourth trial is working with GP surgeries to help improve cancer detection. Clinical trials are also important with helping develop pioneering new cancer treatments.