Genetic Testing in Cancer: Is cancer treatment now easier? A genetic test gave a woman life.

How Targeted Therapy Works In Cancer Care: Cancer begins when changes occur in the genetic structure of the body's cells. However, these changes are not the same in every patient.

 

 

Why is genetic testing important in cancer?

How Genetic Testing Helps In Cancer Treatment: For months, a woman in her fifties from Bengaluru ignored small changes in her body. Problems like feeling full quickly, bloating, and persistent fatigue gradually increased. When her condition worsened, tests revealed she had ovarian cancer, and the disease had spread throughout her body. Visible tumors were removed through surgery, but the real breakthrough came from a specific test performed later.

According to Dr. Ashwin KR, head of the surgical oncology department at Aster Hospital in Bengaluru, a detailed examination of the woman's tumor revealed that the cancer cells were unable to repair the body's damaged genetic material. This information proved crucial in further treatment.

What do experts say?

According to experts, cancer begins when changes occur in the genetic structure of the body's cells. However, these changes are not the same for every patient. Some changes develop over time, while others can be inherited. This is why treatments don't work the same for every cancer patient. Dr. Ashwin KR explains that this type of genetic testing helps understand the underlying cause of cancer. Often, after obtaining this information, the patient is given the medication that has the greatest effect on their disease. This reduces both time and physical stress on treatment.

What was seen in this case?

This is exactly what happened in the woman's case. The test revealed a clue that led doctors to administer a specific targeted drug. This drug affects cancer cells that are unable to repair themselves. After treatment began, the tumor began to shrink, and the woman is now living a normal life, although she is constantly monitored. Experts say that previously, cancer treatment typically relied on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. However, now, with the help of genetic testing, treatment is being tailored to the patient's body and disease, making treatment more precise and effective.

Cancer cases are continuously increasing.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Cancer Registration Program, the number of cancer cases in the country is steadily increasing. It is estimated that the number of patients may increase even more rapidly in the coming years. Experts believe that genetic testing, along with timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, can offer new hope for patients.