Advantages of being in a clinical trial include:

• people on a clinical trial may receive a newer treatment that is not yet available to the general public
• the newer treatment may be more effective than standard treatments
• the progress of treatment will be monitored closely
• people who join clinical trials will also be helping other women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in the future.

Disadvantages of being in a clinical trial include:

• it’s not possible to choose which treatment to have
• the newer treatment might not be more effective than standard treatments
• the newer treatment might have more or different side effects compared with standard treatments
• more tests may be needed during and after treatment than with standard treatments
• it may be necessary to fill in more forms and surveys than with standard treatments
• people in the control group will not receive the newer treatment.