It is widely accepted that the occurrence of cancer involves multiple risk factors and triggers, including lifestyle behaviors, smoking, alcohol consumption, and the living environment, ranging from air pollution, sunlight, to chemicals contaminated in food.
Equally important is the genetic risk. Although not every case will develop cancer if there is a direct family history of cancer in parents or siblings, it cannot be denied that this increases the risk. Screening for prevention is therefore quite necessary for those at high risk.
Precision Cancer Medicine: A New Option for Cancer Treatment
Currently, when doctors diagnose a patient with cancer, there are various treatment methods depending on the affected organ, the stage or severity of the disease, as well as many other patient-related factors. Treatment may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, which can be considered palliative treatments. These often cause significant side effects because all methods aim to target cancer cells but inevitably damage or destroy normal cells as well.
For this reason, the medical community worldwide is striving to find new treatment methods as better alternatives. Currently, a new treatment approach that is gaining popularity and has been found to be highly effective is “Precision Cancer Medicine”.
The Concept of Precision Cancer Medicine in Cancer Treatment
Precision Cancer Medicine involves detecting genetic abnormalities to diagnose mutations in cells in depth. Doctors will examine the current tissue sample of the patient and analyze genetic abnormalities to select appropriate drugs and avoid side effects, as well as to determine personalized treatment methods. This approach yields better treatment outcomes than traditional treatments that typically use the same drugs and methods for the same type and stage of cancer in all patients.
The advantage of this method is that there are almost no limitations, regardless of age, health groups, or even patients who have previously undergone other cancer treatments can be tested.
Mutation Gene Analysis by Expert Physicians
Analyzing and interpreting gene mutations requires specialized physicians because it involves deep diagnosis by reading other abnormal values of the patient, including analyzing gene function efficiency, abnormalities between gene pairs (gene rearrangement), cell division capability, and the stage of gene mutation. Only after the physician confirms the presence of gene mutations does the process of personalized targeted therapy begin.
Doctors will select appropriate drugs for treatment and to reduce the potential side effects, with patients actively participating in treatment decisions based on close consultation with expert physicians. This step is very important because effective analysis and appropriate drug selection increase the chances of recovery.
Cancer Genetics: Knowing Can Reduce Risk Through Preventive Measures
Genetics or genes passed down from generation to generation are beyond our control and determine each person’s identity inherited from their parents. The inherited body also includes genetic diseases such as cancer.
Although cancer genes are inherited, it does not mean the risk of cancer cannot be reduced. Medically, it is analyzed that genetics or genes contribute to about 10-20% of cancer cases. The rest are caused by external triggers and behaviors that lead to mutations developing into full cancer.
Therefore, the best prevention method is regular health check-ups and self-care, which can be done in various ways such as:
- Genetic Testing (Gene Therapy)
For those with a direct family history of cancer, genetic testing is used to detect gene abnormalities to find ways to prevent the disease by strictly reducing risks from external factors and lifestyle behaviors, such as choosing food types, avoiding red meat, abstaining from alcohol, exercising regularly, and getting enough rest. Doctors will provide detailed advice and closely monitor care when patients desire.
- Avoiding Carcinogens
Major carcinogens come from combustion and smoking, as well as fried foods and trans fats. Therefore, when genetic risk is known, avoiding these as much as possible is necessary. Patients can also undergo more frequent cancer screenings for high-risk types because early detection and treatment increase the chances of complete recovery.
