Background
Personalized Cancer Medicine is a multi-faceted, integrated approach to patient care that requires treating the whole patient—not just the disease. It involves finding the right treatment, for the right patient, at the right time.
Over the past 50 years, scientists and physicians have learned just how complex cancer is.
Cancer is not just one disease, so we cannot treat everyone the same way. In addition, every person’s cancer and personal response to treatment is unique. So treating two people with the same type of cancer in the same way will not always yield the best results. That’s why we are committed to a future of individualized treatments.
Cancer is ultimately a disease of the genes, and new technology and insight now allow us to conduct genetic analysis of tumours, which is often the only way to confirm the specifics of the disease. Knowing these specifics is crucial to a patient receiving the most customized and effective treatment.
Creating the new gold standard in cancer care
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is laying the foundation for Personalized Cancer Medicine for patients across Canada and around the world. Our definition is broad and encompasses four main areas:
Detect:
Detecting cancers early leads to better outcomes. We are working on new molecular imaging technology that can see tiny cancers, and discovering new biomarkers – indicators of cancer that can be detected through blood and serum tests.
Diagnose:
Analyzing cancers more precisely will lead to a better understanding of each patient's disease and more customized and effective treatment.
Target:
Targeted surgery, radiation and drug treatments will focus on the cancer and leave healthy tissue intact. New treatments such as immune therapy will also add to better survival rates.
Support:
By providing programs and strategies to help patients and their families live with cancer and with the side effects of cancer treatment, both physical and emotional, we will reduce stress and improve the patient experience.
With your help, The Princess Margaret will lead the way in creating the new gold standard in cancer care: Personalized Cancer Medicine.