Donate / Fundraise
Lottery
Donate / Fundraise

Clinical Trials – What they are and how to find them

A clinical researcher examining melanoma samples under a microscope

Clinical Trials – What They Are and How to Find Them

Clinical trials are carefully designed research studies that test new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, or treat diseases. They are essential to medical progress and have played a vital role in improving survival rates, treatment options, and quality of life for people affected by cancer.

What is a clinical trial?

A clinical trial is a structured study involving volunteers that evaluates:

  • New treatments or drug combinations
  • Surgical or radiotherapy techniques
  • Screening or diagnostic tools
  • Supportive care approaches (such as managing side effects)

All trials follow strict scientific and ethical standards to ensure safety. Participants are closely monitored by clinical teams throughout.

Why clinical trials matter

Clinical trials help researchers determine:
  • Whether a treatment is safe
  • How well it works
  • What side effects it may cause
  • Which patients benefit most
Many of today’s standard cancer treatments were once tested in clinical trials. Without volunteers, advances in prevention and treatment would not be possible.

Who can take part?

Eligibility depends on the trial. Some studies are for:
  • People newly diagnosed
  • Patients already receiving treatment
  • Individuals whose cancer has returned
  • Healthy volunteers (for prevention or screening studies)
Each trial has specific criteria such as age, diagnosis, stage of disease, or previous treatment.

Are clinical trials safe?

Yes. Trials must be approved by ethics committees and regulatory authorities before they begin. In the UK, research is overseen through organisations such as the NHS and the National Institute for Health and Care Research. Participants are given full information and must provide informed consent before joining. You can withdraw from a trial at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

Possible benefits and considerations

Possible benefits

  • Access to new treatments before they are widely available
  • Extra monitoring and specialist care
  • Helping improve treatment for future patients

Things to consider

  • New treatments may not always be better than standard care
  • Extra hospital visits or tests may be required
  • There can be unknown side effects
Discussing options with your healthcare team can help you decide if a trial is right for you.

Where to find clinical trials

Reliable sources for searching trials include:
  • Cancer Research UK — a UK-focused, easy to understand search tool
  • ClinicalTrials.gov — a large international registry of ongoing studies
  • ISRCTN Registry — a recognised global database of clinical research
  • Your hospital specialist or clinical nurse specialist, who can advise on trials recruiting locally

Questions to ask your doctor

  • What is the purpose of this trial?
  • What treatments and tests are involved?
  • What are the risks and benefits?
  • How might it affect my daily life?
  • Are there costs or travel requirements?

Final thoughts

Clinical trials are a cornerstone of modern medicine. Taking part is a personal decision, but understanding what they involve empowers you to make informed choices about your care. Speaking with your clinical team is always the best first step if you are interested in exploring research opportunities.

If you’re thinking about a clinical trial, you don’t have to weigh it up alone. Our melanoma support team and community are here to help, and you can read real patient stories from others affected by melanoma. 💛

Available Treatments

Treatment By Stage

The treatment your team recommends depends heavily on the stage of your melanoma, from stage 0 through to stage 4. Our stage-by-stage guide explains what each one means and the options usually considered at each.
Treatment By Stage

Targeted Therapies

Targeted therapies work on specific genetic changes inside melanoma cells — most commonly in a gene called BRAF — which is why you may be offered a BRAF test. They're an option for people whose melanoma carries these changes.
Targeted Therapies

Surgery for Melanoma

For most people with melanoma, surgery is the first and main treatment — and often the only one needed when the melanoma is found early. It involves removing the melanoma along with a margin of surrounding skin, and sometimes checking nearby lymph nodes.
Surgery for Melanoma
Stage IV Melanoma Treatment Options Decision Guide

Stage IV Melanoma Guide

This booklet is for anyone diagnosed with — or being evaluated for — stage 4 melanoma, the most advanced stage, where the melanoma has spread beyond where it started. It's designed to help you understand and weigh up your treatment options.
Stage IV Melanoma Guide
Second opinion from DR or Melanoma

Second Opinion

It's completely normal to want reassurance about your diagnosis or treatment plan, and you have every right to ask for a second opinion. It won't offend your medical team — it's a recognised part of your care.
Second Opinion
radiotherapy treatment for melanoma

Radiotherapy for Melanoma

Radiotherapy uses carefully targeted radiation to treat melanoma. It isn't used as often as surgery or drug treatments, but it can play a role in certain situations, such as treating melanoma that has spread.
Radiotherapy for Melanoma

Other Therapies

Some less common treatments, such as isolated limb infusion (ILI) and isolated limb perfusion (ILP), may be recommended when melanoma is confined to one area, such as an arm or leg. These deliver treatment directly to the affected limb.
Other Therapies

Learn about BRAF – watch our video

Around half of people diagnosed with melanoma have a change in their cancer cells called a BRAF V600E gene mutation. Watch our short video to understand what BRAF means and why it matters for your treatment options.
Learn about BRAF – watch our video

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy works by helping your own immune system recognise and attack melanoma cells. It's often used for melanoma that has spread or has a higher risk of returning, and several immunotherapy treatments are now available on the NHS.
Immunotherapy
Removal of Melanoma

Excision

Local excision is where the abnormal mole or area of skin is removed and sent to a laboratory for testing. It's a relatively simple operation and is often the first step in diagnosing and treating melanoma.
Excision

Next Steps

Follow up appointments with your GP after Melanoma

FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS

Your follow-up care depends on the stage of the melanoma. Follow-up appointments allow your doctor to monitor for possible recurrence of the melanoma.
FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS
Aftercare advice to follow after Melanoma

MELANOMA AFTER CARE

It’s important to regularly check yourself for any signs of melanoma. As you have already been diagnosed with melanoma, you are at a higher than average risk of having another melanoma in the future.
MELANOMA AFTER CARE

MELANOMA FURTHER TESTS

If the initial biopsy shows melanoma, you may need further tests. Understanding the extent of the melanoma can help your doctor decide the best treatment option for you.
MELANOMA FURTHER TESTS

MELANOMA SKIN BIOPSY

If your doctor does find a suspicious mole, a sample of tissue is removed (a biopsy) for examination under a microscope. The doctor first numbs the skin with an injection of a local anaesthetic
MELANOMA SKIN BIOPSY
Getting diagnosed for Melanoma

GETTING DIAGNOSED WITH MELANOMA

See your doctor if you develop a new mole or notice a change in an existing mole or area of your skin (including under your nail). Even if you’re worried about what this might be, you shouldn’t delay seeing them. It might not be cancer.
GETTING DIAGNOSED WITH MELANOMA