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placebo

  1. Home
  2. Cancer information
  3. Resources
  4. Glossary
  5. placebo
Print

Description

A harmless, inactive substance or treatment that looks the same as, and is given in the same way as, an active drug or treatment.

Placebos may be used in controlled clinical trials. One group is given a placebo such as a sugar pill or salt water (saline) injection. The other group is given the substance or treatment being studied. Then researchers compare the effects of the placebo and the active substance or treatment.

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