How do you decide whether to take part in a study group?

I'm assuming you're early stage; otherwise, I question whether it would be ethical to do a double-blind study where you might get a placebo instead of ADT, since ADT has been established for decades as the first-line treatment for prostate cancer.

(layperson writing)

If you are not willing to be in the placebo group.....do not join the study.

My long-term treatment plan — ADT + Erleada (Apalutamide) for mCSPC — is based on the TITAN study, which was testing Apalutamide for a situation where it wasn't originally recommended. Even then, the early results were so dramatic that for ethical reasons they had to unblind the study partway through and offer the placebo group Apalutamide as well.

@ifusilli, hi.
If you look at the clinical trial it will describe the arms. It may be a comparison study of Relugolix vs no antiandrogen drugs where half of the participants get a placebo. If there is a placebo arm you take a chance of not getting the androgen deprivation.
There is a study of relugolix vs leuprolide. https://www.cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials/intervention/relugolix without a placebo arm. In this study you would receive a different form of androgen deprivation.

I also was in the Titan clinical trial of ADT and Erleada for 6 months then robo surgery then 6 more months of these med and it was only offered to high risk PC patients. My surgeon advised me that even if I got the placebo and ADT I would still benefit in the trial as the ADT for 6 months and then surgery would give me a better chance of getting all of the cancer. Hence, you have to weigh the pros and cons of getting the placebo and the other drug. Once in the clinical trial I determined that I got Erleada and not the placebo ( due to the Erleada blood pressure side effects). I began the clinical trial 3 years ago and the results have been good for me so far.

Actually, I’m a stage 4
And you make Great point thank you

Yes, it is the study with Relugolix and I worry about not being on ADT
Since I am stage 4

My personal choice would be no. I'm willing to try something extra (or maybe placebo), but I wouldn't risk doing without a proven treatment at my stage, unless there are benefits your doctor hasn't explained yet.

As the car commercials used to say, your mileage may vary.

If it is the Relugolix vs leprolide, it would be a safe bet. If it is the study Relugoli vs Placebo, I'd pass on the trial with stage 4.
There is some evidence that Relugolix is a little more effective with better recovery time after ADT.
Best wishes.

The doc wants to take me off bicalutamide and start me on
Relugolix
Stag 4 in the bone and starting radiation soon
Your input is welcome.