Topic: Targeted Treatment

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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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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How Genomic Profiling is Guiding Cancer Treatment

Published by on August 20, 2018 | Share your thoughts

Genomic profiling is approved by the FDA to help guide cancer treatment and clinical trial enrolment for cancer patients. Among other things, this approval allows the genetic test, F1CDx (FoundationOne CDx), to be used as a companion diagnostic test for 15 different targeted therapies used to treat five types of cancer. What is Genomic Profiling for Cancer Treatment? At its most basic, genomic profiling involves testing a patient’s genes – aka tumour DNA sequencing – to identify the exact genetic mutations that are driving that person’s form of cancer. After we identify the person’s genetic mutations, we find a targeted therapy to match. In other words, we find a drug that’s designed specifically to kill the patient’s exact genetic mutations. Not all genetic mutations have...
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Immunotherapy for Cancer Treatment | Newsletter Issue 2

Published by on June 1, 2018 | Share your thoughts

Our understanding of cancer is growing exponentially each year, and each year we have new forms of treatments and diagnoses. One of the most promising new life-saving advancements in cancer care is Immunotherapy, which is a way to use your body’s own immune system to eliminate your cancer. Sound too good to be true? Check out Issue 2 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! See how Immunotherapy has helped cancer patients like you: → Joan’s story (melanoma) – Joan is now cancer free! → Julio’s story (carcinoma) – Julio is now cancer free! → Damian’s story (colon cancer) → Betty’s story (colon cancer) → Mark’s story (colon cancer)...
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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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Squamous Cell Carcinoma | Julio’s Cancer-Free Success Story

Published by on May 22, 2018 | Share your thoughts

From Squamous Cell Carcinoma to Cancer-Free: Julio’s Success Story There is no greater reward than hearing from happy family members of patients we’ve helped. Here’s what the daughter of one of our patients shared with us when she updated CTOAM on her father’s health status. “My father is doing very well. He just had his appointment with his oncologist who gave him a glowing report. Best possible outcome. I am sure that the immunotherapy was instrumental in his cancer being undetectable a year after diagnosis…especially without surgery. We are confident that this good report will continue into the future. We are very grateful for your help and do believe more people should have access to this treatment [Keytruda]. We hope this will make the treatment...
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Renal Cell Carcinoma | New Targeted Treatment Discovery

Published by on May 22, 2018 | Share your thoughts

New cancer treatments are being discovered all the time, and recently a new one was found for renal cell carcinoma. Nearly 50 new targeted therapies are released every month, and approximately 500 new studies on cancer alone released each week. However, many of these new therapies can take years to become available through public health care in Canada, if at all, because of the the public healthcare system’s limitations with time and budget. Access the Newest Cancer Treatments Often, the only way to access these superior treatments is through a precision oncology service like CTOAM (Cancer Treatment Options and Management). Our precision oncology consultants use genetic testing to determine the mutations that are driving your cancer and match those to the newest targeted drugs available....
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Alternatives to Chemotherapy: Why It’s Highly Beneficial to Delay Palliative Chemo

Published by on May 11, 2018 | Share your thoughts

Are you looking for alternatives to chemotherapy? Targeted therapies allow cancer patients to avoid chemo and benefit from treatment that is more effective, and less invasive, than standard treatment – including chemo and radiation. A good example of this is the success story of Margaret, a CTOAM patient with breast cancer. Using a unique precision oncology process, CTOAM helped Margaret delay palliative chemotherapy for two years. During that time she went on targeted therapies and was able to benefit from a longer, and higher quality, life. In sharing Margaret’s story, many people have asked an important question. What’s So Great About Postponing Chemo for Two Years? CTOAM’s cancer expert, Alex Rolland, explains why delaying palliative chemo – and finding evidence-based alternatives to chemotherapy – is so important....
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Why Precision Oncology Works – Even if Some Reports on Targeted Therapies Say Otherwise

Published by on May 1, 2018 | Share your thoughts

Why You Should Trust Precision Oncology  Precision oncology and, more specifically, targeted therapies have been under attack since their inception. There’ve been numerous studies and reports claiming that targeted therapies have NOT lived up to expectations and are still inferior to standard therapies. However, a more detailed look at these so-called ineffective studies reveals many design flaws in their methodologies. When the data is presented accurately, precision oncology produces significant benefits in both overall survival and reduced side effects for cancer patients. Problem #1: Using Targeted Drugs Without the Required Biomarker One issue with many studies involving targeted therapies is the use of targeted therapies without prior testing to ensure the relevant biomarker is present in that patient’s tumour tissue. While this may seem like...
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