Side Effects of High-Dose Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Advance… (NCT00415025) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Side Effects of High-Dose Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Head and Neck Cancer
20 participantsStarted 2004-06
Plain-language summary
RATIONALE: Tests that measure how much saliva is made, hearing, swallowing, voice function, and quality of life may improve the ability to plan treatment for patients with advanced head and neck cancer and may help doctors find better ways to treat the cancer.
PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying the side effects of high-dose intensity-modulated radiation therapy in treating patients with advanced head and neck cancer.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 120 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
* Histologically confirmed advanced head and neck cancer
* Indication for radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy as primary or postoperative therapy AND meets 1 of the following criteria:
* More than 75% of bilateral parotid glands expected to receive ≥ 45 cGy of radiation using conventional treatment field design
* Either or both central auditory apparatus predicted to receive \> 45 cGy of radiation
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
* No comorbid medical condition that would preclude radiotherapy
* No serious concurrent psychosocial, familial, sociological, geographical, or other condition that would preclude study compliance
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
* See Disease Characteristics
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Stimulated saliva production at 6 months after completion of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)
2
Comparison of salivary function of patients in current study to salivary function of historical controls