Precision Medicine
Precision medicine is a type of therapy in which our medical oncologists can use an individual’s genetic test results to guide patient care in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
How does precision medicine work?
If the medical oncologist decides a patient’s specific type of cancer will benefit from additional testing, our staff will either conduct a blood test or a biopsy and then have it be tested to look for abnormalities in the patient or the patient’s tumor profile. Specific abnormalities make it more likely that certain medications would work to treat a patient’s type of cancer.
What types of treatments are usually recommended after receiving the precision medicine results?
These treatments could include certain types of therapy that have been shown through research to help with specific types of cancers. For example, a patient who may have received one type of chemotherapy in the past may be able to receive an additional medication that has been shown to help fight their specific tumor type.
How is precision medicine beneficial?
Because types of cancers act differently in each person’s body, precision medicine provides information on a person’s specific genetic changes for our medical oncologists to review and then recommend a distinct treatment plan to help patients fight against their specific tumor.
Am I qualified?
While precision medicine does not apply to everyone, talk with your medical oncologist about whether or not this is an option for you based on your type and stage of cancer.
