October 29, 2019
Each year over 300 British Columbian women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Typically, ovarian cancer is treated with a combination of surgery, and chemotherapy (radiation is less frequently used for this type of cancer.) However, there are now new treatment options being tested.
Researchers from BC Cancer are now using personalized treatments with their patients, including West Vancouver woman Candy Woodworth. In 2014, Candy was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and went through surgery and chemotherapy, but her cancer returned twice in her colon. Due to the aggressive nature of her cancer, the BC Cancer team sequenced the genome of her cancer. They discovered a mutation in a BRCA gene in the tumor, which was not present in Candy’s tissue. Using this genomic information, they were able to match Candy’s tumor with a medication.
Thanks to this personalized oncogenomics approach Candy now lives cancer free. By tailoring medication to the exact mutation causing the cancer in patients’ medical providers are able to improve the success rates of cancer treatment. You can find out more about this incredible program by visiting bccancerfoundation.com/POG .
Source: Interior News
Read more: http://ow.ly/3lZT50wUhKh
