Understanding personalised medicine and what it could mean for your care
Every cancer is different. Precision medicine is an important part of personalising your cancer treatment. It uses information about the biology of your cancer, including biomarker testing, to help your care team explore treatment options and clinical trials that may be relevant to you.
Biomarker testing can identify specific changes in genes, proteins or other biological features of your cancer. These results may help your care team understand your cancer and support more informed conversations about your treatment options.
What would you like help with today?
How information about your cancer can help your care team explore treatment options that may be right for you:
I want to understand personalised treatment
How information about your cancer can help your care team explore treatment options that may be right for you
I am learning about biomarker testing
What biomarkers are and why testing may matter
I have a biomarker result
What the report may say and what happens next
Find questions to help you make the most of your conversation with your healthcare team.
Begin with a short explanation, then explore information relevant to your cancer type.Start with your cancer type
The tests that may be useful depend on the cancer type, stage, previous treatment and your individual circumstances.
The tests that may be useful depend on the cancer type, stage, previous treatment and your individual circumstances.
- Tests that may be relevant
The tests that may be useful depend on the cancer type, stage, previous treatment and your individual circumstances.
- Tests that may be relevant
The tests that may be useful depend on the cancer type, stage, previous treatment and your individual circumstances.
- Tests that may be relevant
The tests that may be useful depend on the cancer type, stage, previous treatment and your individual circumstances.
- Tests that may be relevant
How testing fits into your care
Testing is one part of a wider care pathway. The exact process and timing vary between people and healthcare systems.
Sample
Tissue is commonly used. Blood may be appropriate in selected situations.
Analysis
A laboratory tests for one biomarker or a broader group of biomarkers.
Report
The report records what was found and whether it may be clinically relevant.
Discussion
Your care team considers the result with all your other clinical information.
What might a biomarker report say?
A report may identify a relevant biomarker, find no current match or describe a finding whose meaning is uncertain.
A relevant biomarker is found
It may help inform treatment, further testing or a clinical trial discussion.
No matching biomarker is found
This does not mean there are no treatment options.
The meaning is uncertain
Some findings are not currently used to guide treatment and may need future review.
Your care team interprets the result alongside the cancer type and stage, your health, previous treatment and your preferences.Continue when you are ready
Explore practical resources without losing the clear path back to your care team.
Patient guides
Information organised by cancer type
Clinical trials
Understand trials and how to discuss them
Patient support
Connect with trusted organisations