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In the evolving landscape of cancer care, a revolutionary approach is emerging that promises more effective, less toxic treatments: Personalised Medicine. No longer is cancer treatment a one-size-fits-all solution; instead, it is becoming as unique as each patient it aims to heal. At Manipal Hospitals, we are at the forefront of integrating these advanced strategies, offering hope and tailored solutions to those battling cancer through personalised cancer treatment.
Synopsis
- Understanding Personalised Medicine in Cancer Treatment
- Common Symptoms Addressed by Personalised Cancer Treatment
- Key Technologies Driving Personalised Cancer Treatment
- The Transformative Benefits for Patients Undergoing Personalised Cancer Treatment
- Types of Cancers Benefiting from Personalised Cancer Treatment
- The Role of Manipal Hospitals in Personalised Cancer Treatment
- Care Essentials: Do's and Don'ts for Personalised Cancer Treatment
Understanding Personalised Medicine in Cancer Treatment
Personalised medicine, often called precision oncology, tailors cancer treatment to an individual's unique genetic, molecular, and environmental characteristics and overall health. Unlike traditional approaches that apply standard therapies to broad cancer types, personalised medicine delves deeper, recognising that even cancers of the same organ can behave differently due to distinct biological makeups, demanding a more nuanced approach to cancer treatment.
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Targeted Approach: It focuses on specific abnormalities within cancer cells, aiming to stop their growth without harming healthy cells, making the cancer treatment highly precise.
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Individualised Care: Treatment plans are designed for the individual, considering their genetic profile, lifestyle, and the specific characteristics of their tumour, ensuring optimal cancer treatment.
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Advanced Diagnostics: Utilises sophisticated tests to identify unique biomarkers and genetic mutations present in a patient’s cancer, guiding the selection of the most effective cancer treatment.
Common Symptoms Addressed by Personalised Cancer Treatment
Personalised medicine effectively manages key cancer symptoms like persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, lumps or swelling, chronic pain, night sweats, and persistent cough. For breast cancer symptoms, it targets hormone-driven pain and lumps; for lung cancer symptoms, it addresses cough and breathlessness through precise therapies.
Key Technologies Driving Personalised Cancer Treatment
Significant advancements in diagnostic technologies and therapeutic options largely drive the advent of personalised medicine in oncology. These technologies are fundamentally reshaping how we approach cancer treatment, moving towards unprecedented precision and efficacy.
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Technology |
Description |
Impact on Cancer Treatment |
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Genomic Profiling & Sequencing |
Analyses tumour DNA for specific mutations, genefusions, or alterations driving cancer growth. |
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Biomarker Testing |
Identifies specific molecules indicating disease presence, severity, or treatment response. |
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Liquid Biopsies |
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Immunotherapy |
Harnesses the body’s immune system to fight cancer, often guided by personalised diagnostics. |
Biomarkers predict which patients respond best, enhancing this form of advanced cancer treatment. |
The Transformative Benefits for Patients Undergoing Personalised Cancer Treatment
The shift towards personalised medicine is bringing about profound benefits for cancer patients, enhancing the effectiveness and experience of cancer treatment.
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Improved Efficacy: By targeting the specific drivers of cancer, personalised treatments often lead to higher response rates and better outcomes. Studies show that patients receiving targeted therapies based on genomic profiling can experience a 30-50% improvement in progression-free survival compared to conventional cancer treatments.
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Reduced Side Effects: Because these treatments are designed to attack cancer cells more precisely, they often spare healthy tissues, leading to fewer and less severe side effects, significantly enhancing the patient’s quality of life during cancer treatment.
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Early Detection and Monitoring: Technologies like liquid biopsies enable earlier detection of recurrence and continuous monitoring of treatment response, allowing for timely adjustments to therapy, optimising ongoing cancer treatment.
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Optimised Treatment Selection: Eliminates the trial-and-error approach, ensuring patients receive the most effective cancer treatment from the outset, saving valuable time and resources. For example, for certain lung cancers, personalised approaches have doubled the two-year survival rate to over 80% in specific patient groups.
Personalised Treatments for Common Cancer Symptoms
For symptoms like colon cancer symptoms (bloody stools, abdominal pain), personalised therapies target KRAS mutations; stomach cancer symptoms (indigestion, nausea) benefit from HER2-targeted drugs, reducing bloating and vomiting effectively.
Types of Cancers Benefiting from Personalised Cancer Treatment
Personalised medicine is making a significant impact across a wide range of cancers, transforming the landscape of cancer treatment.
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Cancer Type |
Key Personalisation Factors |
Impact on Treatment & Specifics |
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Lung Cancer |
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Breast Cancer |
HER2 status, hormone receptor expression, genomic signatures |
Dictates precise treatment choices and chemotherapy regimens, optimising breast cancer treatment. |
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Colorectal Cancer |
KRAS, NRAS, BRAF mutations |
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Stomach Cancer |
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Allows for targeted therapies and immunotherapies, offering advanced options for stomach cancer treatment. |
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Melanoma |
BRAF mutations |
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Leukemias & Lymphomas |
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Pancreatic Cancer |
BRCA mutations, MSI-High tumours |
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The Role of Manipal Hospitals in Personalised Cancer Treatment
At Manipal Hospitals, we are committed to providing cutting-edge cancer treatment. Our approach to personalised medicine is comprehensive and patient-centric, focusing on delivering the best possible outcomes for all our patients.
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State-of-the-Art Diagnostics: We utilise advanced genomic sequencing and molecular diagnostic platforms to accurately profile individual tumours, guiding personalised cancer treatment strategies.
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Multidisciplinary Team: Our expert oncologists, geneticists, pathologists, and radiologists collaborate to interpret complex genomic data and formulate highly individualised cancer treatment plans.
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Access to Innovative Therapies: We ensure patients have access to the latest targeted therapies and immunotherapies, often participating in clinical trials for emerging cancer treatments. This includes specialised approaches for blood cancer treatment, colon cancer treatment, and stomach cancer treatment.
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Compassionate Support: Beyond treatment, we offer comprehensive support services, including genetic counselling, nutritional guidance, and psychological support, to ensure holistic patient well-being during their cancer treatment journey.
FAQ's
Typically, genomic test results can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the tests ordered. Your doctor will discuss the expected timeline with you for your personalised cancer treatment plan.
While personalised medicine is expanding rapidly, its applicability currently varies by cancer type and stage. It is most established for cancers with known actionable mutations, like lung, breast, colorectal (including colon cancer treatment), and certain blood cancer treatment approaches. Your oncologist will determine if it’s an option for your specific cancer treatment needs.
While the initial diagnostic tests can be costly, personalised treatments can ultimately be more cost-effective by avoiding ineffective therapies and reducing the need for managing severe side effects. Insurance coverage for these advanced cancer treatments is also improving.
Personalised medicine aims to treat existing cancer more effectively and can reduce the risk of recurrence by targeting specific cancer-driving mechanisms. However, it does not guarantee prevention of recurrence, and ongoing monitoring is crucial even after successful cancer treatment.
Yes, while generally milder than traditional chemotherapy, personalised treatments can still have side effects. These are typically specific to the targeted pathway and vary widely. Your care team will explain potential side effects for your specific cancer treatment therapy.
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