Breast cancer treatments have improved over the years, but there is still much research to be done.

That’s why Dr. Saranya Chumsri, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic, says she often recommends to her patients breast cancer participation in clinical trialsthat explore innovative treatments and accelerate critical advances in patient care.

Treatment for people with breast cancer has advanced thanks to clinical trials and the people who volunteer to participate in them. But the need for research continues.

“Our treatment of breast cancer has improved dramatically over the past few decades,” says Dr. Chumsri.

She says she is encouraging breast cancer patients review clinical trials.

“First of all, it will help us advance the science … the patient herself will also benefit from being able to have access to these new medicines.”

But the lack of diversity in clinical trials can mean a lack of data for different groups of people.

So it’s important for people with diverse communities to participate in clinical trials to promote health equity and reduce health disparities.

“By including these patients in a clinical trial, first of all, they can really benefit from these new treatments like immunotherapy,” says Dr. Chumsri.

And the results of clinical trials benefit everyone, advancing medical care and improving public health.

“That’s the only way to know if the treatment will be better than what we currently have as the standard of care,” she says.