Yes. Most clinical trials provide short-term treatments related to a designated illness or condition, but do not provide extended or complete primary health care. In addition, by having the health care provider work with the research team, the participant can ensure that other medications or treatments will not conflict with the protocol.
What has your experience been like with your PCP while participating in a clinical trial?
In my experience, it has been helpful to have my clinical research team and my PCP have work very closely to share information. It has been fairly easy to do with medical records being electronic. I often ask for extra copies of scans (on CD) to take to my PCP as well.
In my case, my PCP is administering actually the clinical trial (Johns Hopkins). That was part of my Oncologist selection seven years ago. The clinical trial that I'm now in is called "double, continuous androgen deprivation therapy." I'm in the cohort that's on 3-month eligard shots combined with daily casodex 50 mg pills. They've held my PSA at undetectable for over 2.5 years. Prior to this Oncologist, I was a Gleason 10 with failed prostatectomy (1 yr) and failed radiation IGRT, (3 yrs). The clinical trial gets me more comprehensive annual examinations with scans that can be helpful.
