Do you need to have cancer to join a clinical trial?

Not always. It depends on the type of clinical trial.

Most cancer clinical trials are treatment studies that involve people who have cancer. These test new treatments or new ways of using existing treatments.

But other types of trials can involve people who do not have cancer:

• Prevention trials look at ways to prevent cancer. In most prevention trials, the people who take part do not have cancer but are at high risk of developing it, or they have had cancer and are at high risk of a new cancer.
• Screening trials test ways to find cancer before it causes symptoms, and healthy volunteers may take part.

People with cancer and healthy volunteers both join trials to play a role in cancer research and help others. Your healthcare team can help you find a trial that fits your situation.