The first step in finding a clinical trial is to speak with your doctor about what types of new treatments are being studied and what might work best for you or the person in your care. Let the doctor know that you'd like to consider a clinical trial, and discuss the possible approaches. There may be several options to consider, or there may be one specific treatment your doctor recommends.

Surprisingly, though, many breast cancer patients and their families find that their oncologists aren't the best source of information about clinical trials. A national survey of cancer patients found that eight out of ten cancer patients were unaware of the existence of clinical trials, and that doctors reported being unable to help their patients enroll because they don't have the time, staff, or funding to keep up with the vast number of trials happening across the country. The best way to find out about clinical trials is to research them yourself. To do so, see Clinical Trials for Breast Cancer Treatment: A Step-by-Step Guide.