Your First Step Toward More Individualized Cancer Treatment
Being diagnosed with cancer brings feelings of fear and confusion, but you can take heart in knowing that you aren't alone and that you'll be entering treatment during a time when we know more than ever about the disease.
You're among more than 12.7 million people diagnosed each year, BUT the most important thing to understand is that you are an individual and your treatment should not be generic.
And your oncologist has provided you with a powerful tool ... IsMyCancerDiffererent.com.
You walk out of the doctor's office after diagnosis
and it hits you: "What now?"
Nobody is prepared for being told they have cancer, but fortunately you have a treatment team and resources dedicated to helping you find the most individualized cancer treatment possible.
Your cancer treatment team: Different players ... One goal.
Your treatment team likely includes a pathologist and an oncologist. Knowing their distinct roles is important. Pathologists work behind the scenes in laboratories to characterize your disease while your oncologist is your one-on-one guide in deciding on a treatment that is appropriate for your cancer.
Don't be afraid to ask your oncologist any and all questions about your diagnosis and what type of testing might provide more information on your cancer.
No two patients are the same:
A new era in cancer treatment
Advances in our understanding of cancer have proven the disease to be far more complex than originally thought. In recent years, we've learned each person may have different gene abnormalities that drive their cancer. This may explain why one breast cancer patient might respond well to a given therapy while another will derive little or no benefit from the same therapy.
The good news is that molecular-level testing may help to identify the unique characteristics of your cancer.
What are the potential benefits of knowing about alternative cancer treatment options?
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Start your fight by seeking to find what's driving your cancer.
Identifying your individualized treatment strategy begins with trying to identify what may be driving the growth of your cancer.
While your pathologist can use a microscope to identify and stage your cancer, more advanced forms of testing are available that may better pinpoint the unique gene abnormalities that may be causing your cells to malfunction.
Molecular–level testing helps you avoid "one-size-fits-all" care by:
- Providing insight into what medicines and therapies may be most appropriate in targeting your cancer
- Shedding light on clinical trials that could best match your diagnosis
- Allowing you to avoid unnecessary treatments that might do little to stop your cancer
- Helping you access new drugs and treatment strategies
Individualized Cancer Care Pathway
Ask "Is My Cancer Different?"
Only doctors can order advanced molecular-level testing so asking your oncologist is critical.
Oncologist and/or Pathologist orders advanced molecular-level testing
Once you've asked, your oncologist or pathologist can order the testing most appropriate for your disease.
Specialized molecular-level diagnostic lab conducts testing
Samples of your tumor tissue or blood are sent to a cutting-edge laboratory where they are run through a series of tests that may highlight unique cellular abnormalities that may drive your cancer. The lab issues a report that may contain data and images that are sent to your treatment team.
Treatment strategy is recommended
Depending on the test results, your oncologist and pathologist may combine their knowledge of your case with the molecular-level data to help select therapies and drugs that are appropriate in targeting your cancer.
Individualized cancer
treatment begins
You and your oncologist review recommendations and agree upon an individualized treatment strategy.
