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The outlook for people diagnosed with cancer is becoming brighter all the time, thanks to a variety of ongoing advancements.
Over 18 million cancer survivors are living in the U.S. today, according to the American Cancer Society. Increasingly, many of the nearly 2 million Americans who will be diagnosed with cancer this year will experience cancer more like a chronic disease than a dim prognosis.
Screenings Save Lives
Screening tests effective at finding many types of cancer before signs or symptoms appear are now available. The American Cancer Society has recommended screening guidelines for the following cancers:
• Breast cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Lung cancer
• Prostate cancer
Certain cancers are much easier to treat when detected early, preventing thousands of additional cancer cases and deaths.
Recommendations can vary based on your age, family history and lifestyle. Talk to your doctor about cancer screening, and do not skip or delay your recommended screenings. It cannot be overstated: Early diagnosis and treatment are substantial factors in surviving cancer.
The Power of Genetics
Genetic screening and testing are powerful tools that enable oncologists to diagnose cancers faster and more precisely and rapidly develop customized treatments based on each patient’s unique genetic makeup and mutations.
Genetic mutations inherited from our parents can increase the risk of developing certain cancers. Knowing personal risk factors for hereditary cancers can be lifesaving.
Genetic screening involves a review of personal and family cancer history, including type(s) of cancer and age(s) at diagnosis. Based on this information, specially trained genetics specialists can refer individuals for consultation and genetic testing, guide lifestyle changes or explore other preventive options to reduce future risk.
Clinical testing, known as Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), is an advanced form of genetic testing that can simultaneously detect mutations in hundreds of different genes derived from tumor cells. NGS testing provides a more precise understanding of an individual diagnosis. When oncologists know the specific genetic alteration a patient has, they may be able to identify a therapy that directly targets that exact mutation. The results also help to identify clinical trials a patient would be eligible for based on their molecular profile.
Immunotherapies
Chemotherapy and radiation have been widely used for decades to target cancer cells. While effective, these treatments can also destroy healthy blood cells and harm the body’s production of new cells.
Immunotherapies work to stimulate or boost the natural defenses of the body’s immune system to work harder to fight cancer. They can be injected directly into a vein, swallowed through a pill or capsule form or applied topically through a cream rubbed onto the skin.
Immunotherapy may be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery. While side effects can occur, a key difference is that they are often less severe than those encountered with conventional therapies (like chemotherapy, radiation, etc.).
In the last few decades, immunotherapy has been approved for treating many cancers, including bladder, cervical, breast, colorectal, lymphoma and melanoma, among others. Patients may receive immunotherapy in a doctor’s office, an oncology clinic or, in some cases, a hospital setting.
Clinical Research Drives Cancer Treatment Advancements
Every drug or therapy in place today to treat cancer started in a clinical trial.
After promising results are seen in the laboratory, medical breakthroughs then require careful research through closely monitored studies conducted in humans, called clinical trials. These studies deserve credit for new treatments of cancers that were previously considered incurable.
Studies of new cancer drugs or medical procedures are not a last resort but an opportunity to expand an individual’s treatment to include early access to the most effective and promising options.
More Hope on the Horizon
Scientific researchers around the globe continue their work toward a cure for cancer at a very fast pace.
In particular, researchers are focusing on several major areas to improve immunotherapy. Even though immunotherapy can prevent or slow cancer growth, cancer cells have ways to avoid destruction by the immune system. An increased understanding of how cancer cells get around the immune system could lead to the development of new drugs that block those processes and ways to reduce the side effects of treatment.
Cancer vaccines are also a form of immunotherapy. While several vaccines are effective in preventing diseases caused by bacteria and viruses, the development of cancer vaccines is significantly more complicated due to several factors. Currently, four vaccines that can help prevent cancer and two that treat cancer have been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
Increasingly, immunotherapy and other exciting new advancements are leading to the development of truly targeted therapies to achieve the best possible outcomes. Hope is clearly on the horizon. Patients with cancer and their health care teams have more options to pick from than ever before, with more on the way.
WORLD-CLASS CANCER TREATMENT, CLOSE TO HOME
About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC: (FLCancer.com)
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) offers patients access to more clinical trials than any private oncology practice in Florida. The majority of new cancer drugs recently approved for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials with FCS participation.* Recognized for our research, FCS is a recipient of the national Clinical Trials Participation Award presented by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). FCS physicians, trained in prestigious medical schools and research institutes, are consistently ranked nationally as Top Doctors by U.S. News & World Report.
Founded in 1984, FCS has built a national reputation for excellence that is reflected in exceptional and compassionate patient care, driven by innovative clinical research, cutting-edge technologies and advanced treatments, including targeted therapies, genomic-based treatment and immunotherapy. Our highest values are embodied by our outstanding team of highly trained and dedicated physicians, clinicians and staff.
*Prior to approval
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
1630 SE 18th St, Ste 602
Ocala, FL 34471-5472
4945 SW 49th Pl
Ocala, FL 34474-9673
For more information, visit FLCancer.com