Last question: Why my doc wants me to go: Well, Phase I trials can be risky - in that they are for untested drugs and sometimes are the first tests in human - so neither myself of my doc wants me to participate in those in general. However, the one he wants is a green tea extract. The premise is that asians who drink it all the time have a lot lower incidence in oral cancer and it may either prevent or repair the damage that leads to the cancer. In either case, he feels that it wouldn't hurt as it is only green tea. I'm not so sure I'd go for a drug trial since I dont have active cancer that we know.

Even though is isn't a drug per se - green tea does have some chemical properties like drugs and can also have side effects - so that is the risk that I take if I participate. The general side effects are similar as to that of having a lot of caffeine - nervousness, shakiness, diarrhea etc.....