So recently I've been getting emails asking about a more personalized treatment plan for patients. Where these emails asked me to tell them exactly what to do, I'm afraid I cannot do that. I can however, explain what personalized or individualized treatments are and what they can do for you as a patient.
Personalized treatments are exactly what they say. It is a relatively new focus on medicine that goes for that particular patient. The drugs are tailored for each person's individual brain tumor. This is when it is referred to as individualized medicine.
Personalized treatments are exactly what they say. It is a relatively new focus on medicine that goes for that particular patient. The drugs are tailored for each person's individual brain tumor. This is when it is referred to as individualized medicine.
This type of treatment can also be very precise. Some say it's good because it narrows treatment for certain types of brain tumors. It is known that every brain tumor is different, and therefore requires different treatment plans. Even two people with the same, for example, glioblastoma, could need a different treatment plan.
Personalized medicine is not only a benefit for the patient, but also for cost of treatments. It is predicted by Edward Abrahams, president of the Personalized Medicine Coalition, that expenses will be cut. He says that researchers will use patient and tumor genomes for new therapies.
Maurie Markman, MD, said the following in an article on Health Leaders Media:
Personalized medicine is not only a benefit for the patient, but also for cost of treatments. It is predicted by Edward Abrahams, president of the Personalized Medicine Coalition, that expenses will be cut. He says that researchers will use patient and tumor genomes for new therapies.
Maurie Markman, MD, said the following in an article on Health Leaders Media:
"The future is here," Markman says, noting that there have been gradual and significant cost reductions for genome sequencing over the past decade or so. "Within the next year, it will be possible to sequence the entire genome of a tumor and the corresponding normal genome of an individual cancer patient for $3,000. Twelve to 15 years ago, it would cost about $6 million."
Research shows that individualized medicine is our future for treatment. It can target a patients tumor based on the individual. This type of treatment can help many, not just in brain tumor treatment but in many other types.
Works Cited
Cantlupe, Joe. "Personalized Cancer Treatments Approach Tipping Point." Health Leaders Media. Health Leaders Media, 27 Sept 2012. Web. 18 Feb 2013. <http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/page-1/LED-284870/Personalized-Cancer-Treatments-Approach-Tipping-Point##>
Works Cited
Cantlupe, Joe. "Personalized Cancer Treatments Approach Tipping Point." Health Leaders Media. Health Leaders Media, 27 Sept 2012. Web. 18 Feb 2013. <http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/page-1/LED-284870/Personalized-Cancer-Treatments-Approach-Tipping-Point##>