Research

Significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, but we are continually trying to improve these results. It is important for any new treatment to be properly tested or compared with a standard treatment, to see if it really is better, and this is done within a clinical trial.

The Sunrise Centre in the Royal Cornwall Hospital has an active trials unit, and is amongst the top recruiters to clinical trials in the country. If there is a suitable trial appropriate for a particular patient then this should be discussed with them by an oncologist. However, entry into the trial would always be optional, and if declined, would not affect the patient's future care.

The trials that are open are constantly changing, with some trials closing once sufficient patients have entered, and new trials starting. Further details on current and appropriate trials, and what they involve, can be obtained from an oncologist or clinical trials team.