A simple question sparked complicated answers: “Would you participate in a clinical trial?”

“I would be nervous,” Baltimore resident Kim Pennington admits. “It has to be a sacrifice, and I don’t know if I want to sacrifice my health and my life for a trial.”

She’s not alone. Black women make up just 2% of all cancer clinical trial participants. Experts say this lack of participation is one of the reasons Black women are 38% more likely to die from breast cancer.

What Is a Clinical Trial?

Clinical trials test new medications and treatments on volunteers, allowing researchers to determine if they’re safe and effective. It’s a form of medical research — and they’re often the only way patients can get access to the most advanced treatments.

“Clinical trials are just a marvelous opportunit

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