My 60 year ,old non smoking and no family history, wife was diagnosed with stage 3b lung cancer on August 1, 2008. Surgery at UAB cancer center in Al. Was unsuccessful. The surgeon submitted her cancer cells to a lab that specialized in testing cancer cells sensitivity to various chemo. The results showed her cancer was most sensitive to carboplatin/toxal combination. She was given a 12 rounds of chemo(carboplatin/toxal) combination along with 36 rounds of daily radiation. The oncologist stated that here tumor has shrunk 90% and there was no evidence of cancer any where else in her body. There are numerous labs that provide this service. I am not sure what to cost is or if insurance will pay for this. My wife was used in a study that her surgeon was conducting and because of this there was no fee charged. You should be able to find the various labs by googeling "Cancer Sensitiviy Testing"
In this dawning era of molecular medicine, surgeons and pathologists are playing a more pivotal role in cancer medicine. They are the custodians of the specimens and therefore the molecules that represent the personalized part of personalized cancer medicine. Surgeons will continue to cure cancer with greater success rates through earlier detection and excision, but as the custodiams of the tissue, they will also be central to improving cancer management through molecularly targeted interventions.
As we enter the era of personalized cancer medicine, it is time to take a fresh look at how we evaluate treatments for cancer patients. More emphasis is needed matching treatment to the patient. Patients would certainly have a better chance of success had their cancer been chemo-sensitive rather than chemo-resistant, where it is more apparent that chemotherapy improves the survival of patients, and where identifying the most effective chemotherapy would be more likely to improve survival.
Joined: Apr 2009
Chem sensitivity test
My 60 year ,old non smoking and no family history, wife was diagnosed with stage 3b lung cancer on August 1, 2008. Surgery at UAB cancer center in Al. Was unsuccessful. The surgeon submitted her cancer cells to a lab that specialized in testing cancer cells sensitivity to various chemo. The results showed her cancer was most sensitive to carboplatin/toxal combination. She was given a 12 rounds of chemo(carboplatin/toxal) combination along with 36 rounds of daily radiation. The oncologist stated that here tumor has shrunk 90% and there was no evidence of cancer any where else in her body. There are numerous labs that provide this service. I am not sure what to cost is or if insurance will pay for this. My wife was used in a study that her surgeon was conducting and because of this there was no fee charged. You should be able to find the various labs by googeling "Cancer Sensitiviy Testing"
Joined: May 2001
Personalized Cancer Medicine Is Here, Now!
In this dawning era of molecular medicine, surgeons and pathologists are playing a more pivotal role in cancer medicine. They are the custodians of the specimens and therefore the molecules that represent the personalized part of personalized cancer medicine. Surgeons will continue to cure cancer with greater success rates through earlier detection and excision, but as the custodiams of the tissue, they will also be central to improving cancer management through molecularly targeted interventions.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2711907
As we enter the era of personalized cancer medicine, it is time to take a fresh look at how we evaluate treatments for cancer patients. More emphasis is needed matching treatment to the patient. Patients would certainly have a better chance of success had their cancer been chemo-sensitive rather than chemo-resistant, where it is more apparent that chemotherapy improves the survival of patients, and where identifying the most effective chemotherapy would be more likely to improve survival.
http://cancerfocus.org/personalized_cancer_medicine_is_here_now/35649