Has anyone ever consolidated credit cards into a personal loan?

Hi! I am looking for advice on lowering my debt as it seems my credit cards keep rising up and up.  I pay off my min. balance very month but my balance only seems to go up and not down. I have 5 cards and I heard from a friend that I could get a personal loan to pay them off and then pay the loan. Curious if anyone has ever done this or it would something like this help me???? 

 

Any advice would be great. 

 

Thanks!