The overall rate of cancer is increasing day by day due to sedentary lifestyle choices, growing population, environmental factors, and exposure to various viruses and toxins. Along with the increasing rates of cancer across the globe, the way of treating this disorder is also evolving, improving, and advancing. One such advanced cancer treatment approach personalized care or precision medicine. Hope & Heal Cancer Hospital and Research Centre is a reputed cancer hospital in Siliguri, where you can expect to get advanced and personalized care for optimal healthcare outcomes.
Precision medicine is all about curating the treatment plan on the basis of the overall well-being of the patient. Starting from looking at the changes in proteins of a person to studying the gene makeup, this treatment approach has helped in making cancer diagnosis and treatment more accurate and successful. Doctors often adopt this personalized care method when they are tailoring the treatment plan.
Role Of Precision Medicine In Cancer Treatment
Precision medicine plays an essential role in tailoring cancer therapies based on the unique characteristics of the patient. Starting from lifestyle information and genetics to environmental factors, everything is understood properly to deliver transforming and individualized care. Given below are some of the major roles of personalized medicine in cancer treatment:
1. Identifies high-risk population for cancer: With the help of precision medicine, oncologists analyse the family history and genetic profile of a person to check whether he is at higher risk of developing certain cancers or not. To identify specific mutations, the doctor may perform various genetic screenings which helps in reducing the likelihood of certain cancers through preventive treatments and frequent screenings.
2. Help choosing the right cancer treatment: Personalized medicine helps oncologists choose the right cancer treatment based on the genetic makeup of the tumor. Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all in the case of cancer treatment and this is why it is essential to personalize the treatment for a speedy recovery. With this technique, the doctor analyses the cancer cells to witness any protein or gene changes so that the best treatment that will work perfectly can be selected.
3. Diagnoses the type and stage of cancer accurately: With the help of traditional cancer diagnosis, biopsies and imaging tests are used to detect the cancer. However, through precision medicine, the molecular characteristics of the tumor can be understood while accurately determining the stage and type of cancer. In some cases, even sub-types of the cancer are identified for curating an effective treatment plan.
4. Early detection of the cancer: In most cases, the treatment for a cancer is delayed due to unnoticeable symptoms which can make the cancer go unrecognized for a longer period. Herein, precision medicine helps in analyzing various biomarkers of the body which signals the existence or chances of cancer even before there are any noticeable symptoms. When the cancer is detected at an early stage, it ensures effective treatment with increased survival rates.
5. Studies changes in genes: The main benefit of personalized medicine is that it helps in studying specific gene changes or mutations occurring in cancer cells. In most cases, cancer develops when DNA in the healthy cells mutates and grows uncontrollably. With precision medicine, the gene changes associated with the progression and development of the cancer are understood so that a tailored treatment plan can be advised.
Cancers Where Personalized Care Can Be Used
Precision medicine is definitely a life-changing cancer care approach but you must understand that this cannot be used for every type of cancer. There are certain common cancers when this personalized approach can be used for better outcomes. Some such cancers include-
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Breast cancer
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Colorectal cancer
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Types of leukaemia
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Lung cancer
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Stomach cancer
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Types of lymphoma
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Ovarian cancer
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Thyroid cancer
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Melanoma
If you have been diagnosed with cancer then visit the best cancer hospital in Siliguri to determine whether precision medicine can be used or not. The doctor does various protein or gene testing before starting the treatment to if you have the option of personalized care.
Types Of Precision Medicine Cancer Treatments
There are various disease-specific cancer treatments that are tailored following the precision medicine approach.
Radiation therapy
There are various types of radiation therapy where the anatomy of an individual is analysed to adjust the therapy which ultimately helps in reducing side-effects and damage to other areas. Some such procedures which can be adjusted through this method are proton therapy and MR-linac. In certain cases, the doctor might also recommend molecular profiling to check whether the gene structure of the person is less or more sensitive to radiation.
Immunotherapy
Another precision medicine treatment option is immunotherapy where the immune system of the patient is used to detect and eliminate the cancer. Through immunotherapy, your immune system gets a boost to kill the cancer cells. There are treatment vaccines and T-cell therapy that can be used to treat various types of cancer precisely. You can visit a renowned cancer hospital in Siliguri to determine the right immunotherapy technique for your condition.
Gene therapy
Through precision medicine, oncologists can determine any changes or damage in the genes. Herein, if any prominent damage is noticed then gene therapy can be used to treat it. Through this therapy, the genes that are dividing uncontrollably and malfunctioning are replaced with a healthy gene copy. These healthy genes are inserted into the cancer genes so that other treatment options can be used to eliminate them.
Surgery
Not only therapies, surgical oncology can also be adjusted through precision medicine. Herein, the surgical procedure is adjusted for each patient where the main goal is to eradicate the cancer completely. 3D printing and real-time image guidance are some of the advanced techniques that are the ideal examples of precision surgical procedures that are tailored based on the needs of the patients.
Targeted therapies
There are certain targeted therapies that also come under precision cancer treatments. In this technique, the treatment plan is formulated specifically to attack certain proteins present in the cancer cells. When this protein is attacked the uncontrollable growth and spread of cancer can be managed effectively. One of the best precision medicine targeted therapies is hormone therapy which helps in stopping the development of certain hormones so the growth of the cancer cells can be reduced.
Precision medicine or personalized care is definitely a revolutionary approach that enables doctors to curate treatment plans based on the unique health needs of the patients. You can visit a reputed cancer hospital in Siliguri to avail this advanced technique where your chances of recovery will be enhanced through multidisciplinary care, advanced radiation techniques, targeted therapies, and other precision cancer treatments. Remember that personalized care not only treats cancers but also contributes to preventing certain types of cancer.
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