Categories for Diagnostics

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Is a Cancer Misdiagnosis Common?

Published by on July 29, 2020 | Share your thoughts

Perhaps the only thing scarier than a cancer diagnosis is learning that you’ve been misdiagnosed. Of course, if it turns out that you don’t actually have cancer, then that’s amazing news! (Although, wouldn’t you have wanted to avoid the whole ‘cancer scare’ if you didn’t even have it in the first place?) Sadly, what’s far more common is when people are misdiagnosed with the wrong type of cancer. Which means that instead of getting the right treatment from the get-go, you were wandering down the wrong path, wasting precious time, through no fault of your own. Our cancer expert, Alex Rolland, explains more in this video. How often does cancer misdiagnosis occur? Watch here ⬇️ When someone calls us at CTOAM, they usually want to...
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Find the Right Treatments Matching Your Cancer Genetics

Published by on June 19, 2020 | Share your thoughts

CTOAM Is Partnering With OmiCure to Bring You the Most Advanced Precision Diagnostics! A word from CTOAM’s Chief Research Scientist and Co-Founder, Alex Rolland: CTOAM has prided itself on always staying on the cusp of Precision Oncology and cancer genetics – and, for the last 10 years, we have been the first to bring many amazing diagnostic and treatment technologies to cancer patients all over the world. Now we are entering a new dawn in Precision Oncology! We have just partnered with OmiCure to bring our patients the latest in diagnostic technology using their advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform. This amazing new technology analyzes 30 million reads of RNA sequencing from a tumour biopsy in order to identify the best possible drug combinations for each...
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Computer generated image of close-up of blue DNA strand with red cells surrounding it.

Did You Inherit Cancer Causing Gene Mutations?

Published by on February 18, 2019 1 Comment

Many of us have had a blood relative with cancer. If you inherited certain causing genetic mutations, it can increase your chances of developing cancer as well. Two Types of Inherited Mutations There are two types of inherited mutations that could affect you for cancer. 1. Germline Inherited: These are inherited through the family germline, affecting many generations. They’re relatively rare, connected with causing 10 -15% of cancers. 2. Somatic Inherited: In contrast, the other type of inherited mutation is only present in that person – and not their family. So, with this kind, there is no previous family history of cancer. Most cancers are caused by this type of inheritance. Inherited Mutations with NO Family History This type of inherited mutation occurs when the...
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A notepad with a list of new year's resolutions for 2019 written with blank spaces.

5 New Year’s Resolutions to Make When You Have Cancer

Published by on January 5, 2019 2 Comments

It’s that time of year again…time for the annual barrage of “New Year, New You” articles, memes, and discussions around the water cooler. If you have cancer, though, this year is probably looking a bit different. The typical New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, start running, cut out gluten, or floss daily don’t seem that important. You have one goal and wish for this year – and that’s to survive cancer. Our client care team at CTOAM has put together a list of things you can do this year that are scientifically proven to increase your chances of beating cancer. So that you can look forward to many more years of making New Year’s resolutions and spending time with your loved ones. 1. Get a...
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A DNA strand overlaps a close-up of a cancer cell.

How Genomic Profiling Increases Cancer Patients’ Chances of Survival!

Published by on October 3, 2018 2 Comments

In nearly a decade of helping people recover from cancer, CTOAM’s precision oncology specialists have never seen two people with exactly the same cancer. Our specialists have seen people with breast, lung, brain, and prostate cancer, as well as other types of cancer – and, even within the same category, no two people have had the exact same mutations driving their cancer. Therefore, each of our patients has required a unique combination of advanced targeted therapies and nutraceuticals, and sometimes in addition to other treatment interventions. In order to have the best chance of recovery from cancer, your treatment must target your unique genetic mutations. And for that, you need genomic profiling and Precision Oncology’s gene-based approach to cancer care. What is Cancer? Cancer is...
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Two women smile for a photo, one has cancer and a scarf around her head.

What if Better Cancer Treatment Already Exists?

Published by on September 30, 2018 1 Comment

What if there were already better cancer treatment options? Better than standard chemotherapy and radiation? There are! We now have more accurate tests and treatments that help cancer patients live longer than standard cancer care. These treatments have already been approved for use in Canada and have recently become part of standard care in the UK. They’re also already used in most top cancer hospitals in the US, like the Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson, and John Hopkins. But, most are not yet available through Canadian public healthcare. It could take upwards of 10 years for these lifesaving treatments to become offered through Canadian public healthcare. That’s where CTOAM comes in. Cancer Treatment Options and Management (CTOAM) is a Canada-based company that specializes in providing Precision Oncology...
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Why You NEED a PET/CT Scan | Newsletter Issue 6

Published by on September 10, 2018 | Share your thoughts

The more you know about cancer care and what your options are, the more options you’ll have and the more confident you can be in the treatment choices that you are making – and that includes understanding the benefits of getting a PET/CT scan. CTOAM exists to support cancer patients around the globe to access the very best cancer care available, from anywhere in the world, right where you live. Helping cancer patients and their families to be aware of all their options is crucial to our goal of saving lives and improving cancer care for everyone. One choice you have the power to make, at any stage in your diagnosis or treatment, that has soundly proven its benefit to every stage of cancer care,...
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The Four Pillars of Precision Oncology | Newsletter Issue 4

Published by on September 10, 2018 | Share your thoughts

Precision Oncology has four distinct steps, also referred to as The Four Pillars of Precision Oncology. Clinical cancer research shows that when cancer patients include just one of these Precision Oncology tools the results are improved survival rates over standard cancer care, with greatly reduced treatment side effects. Now, what do you think the outcome would be when all four of these life-saving advances are applied to your cancer treatment? In fact, the data shows that the full Precision Oncology process results in greatly prolonged survival rates, even for patients with inoperable cancers and those who have already exhausted all standard care options. And for those who begin their cancer treatment with Precision Oncology, the outcomes are literally off the charts. Check out Issue 4 of the CTOAM newsletter to explore the Four Pillars of...
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Liquid Biopsies for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Monitoring | Newsletter Issue 3

Published by on September 10, 2018 2 Comments

Each year, there are many new advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Liquid Biopsies (tests to determine the presence and type of cancer, using blood instead of a tumour tissue sample) are a new tool in managing cancer and can be used in real-time diagnosis, treatment monitoring, checking for recurrences, and determining if new targeted therapies such as immunotherapy are right for you. Check out Issue 3 of the CTOAM newsletter to see the top life-saving advancements in cancer! Or, read more below. Do you want to have life-saving information delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our monthly newsletter! Top Life Saving Advancements in Cancer | Liquid Biopsies LIQUID BIOPSIES To see real life success stories on how CTOAM has used Liquid Biopsies to change lives, take...
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8 Ways to Advocate for Your Cancer Care – This Could Save Your Life

Published by on June 1, 2018 3 Comments

Do you really need a cancer care advocate or is the basic care you receive from your public oncologist good enough? Read on to find out the truth about standard care and decide for yourself. Joan was 45 years old when she was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic melanoma. Her public oncologist gave her the option of standard chemotherapy, which, according to studies, would’ve given her approximately less than a year to live. Since her disease would not respond to standard treatments, her oncologist told her that there were no other treatment options. She was told to get her affairs in order. But Joan wasn’t ready to accept this – so she and her husband reached out to CTOAM. Our cancer experts helped them to access the...
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