Breast cancer is a terrible, devastating disease that can affect anyone. It is the most common type of cancer that affects women (although it can also affect men). Clinical trials are extremely important scientific studies needed and required to assess new medical treatments, including treatments for diseases such as breast cancer.

Learn more about how breast cancer can be diagnosed.

According to the American Cancer Society, better treatment options are improving a patient’s chances of surviving breast cancer. Currently, the five-year relative survival rate for women who have either stage 0 or stage 1 breast cancer is close to 100%. Later-stage breast cancer has a lower survival rate, but it is still high: For women with stage 2 breast cancer, the five-year relative survival rate is about 93%, while for stage 3 breast cancers it is about 72%.

In addition to helping patients by making the best possible treatments available, clinical trials also advance scientific understanding of a disease or disorder.

Find out more about how breast cancer clinical trials work.

It is important to make sure that a new drug is more effective than existing treatments, how it actually works with a disease, and that it is safe. Decisions to give drugs or other medical treatments have to come from scientific data, not just the opinion of a healthcare provider, patient, or another individual. Clinical trials help to assure all of these things.

Read more about why we need clinical trials for breast cancer.

Breast Cancer News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.