When a patient has a rare cancer, the usual published guidelines may not work. Clinical trials group patients with the same disease, such as breast cancer, and then assess treatments. The outcomes are relevant to the average patient with breast cancer. However, when you look deeply at the genetics of each breast cancer patient, there are actually many differences.
But what if the patient with the rare cancer does not fit into any published guidelines and what if a recommended treatment has failed? What to do next?
Cancer Is A Disease Of Altered Genes:
Cancer is a disease of altered genes. Modern science can assess genes and identify mutations in DNA. This is called next-generation sequencing.
At RCM Health, our team of sub-specialists and health advocates send the biopsy materials to a specialized lab for next-gen testing. The results identify the mutations, and once these are known, then a targeted treatment can, in most cases, be determined.
RCM Health Cancer Case Study:
J.A. was a retired finance professional. He was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, which is a rare cancer. He received the standard treatment, which is doxorubicin. This treatment failed.
He needed a different approach. He retained the team at RCM Health Consultancy to assist with a medical second opinion. We suggested sending some tissue to a specialized lab for next-generation sequencing. The results indicated that Afinitor, a biologic, was the most appropriate option.
He had paid his insurance premiums for years. He submitted the request for funding for Afinitor to the insurer. And the request/claim was declined. The reason provided was that next-generation sequencing was deemed irrelevant and that only published guidelines are accepted
Conclusion: Next-Generation Sequencing is The Right Approach
It is very sad to see that patients with rare cancers, who are a very vulnerable group, are not being appropriately assessed by a system that in some cases relies on outdated guidelines. Next-generation sequencing is the investigation of choice for precision oncology, which is the right way to go.
If you or someone you know has a rare cancer, consider exploring RCM Health’s cancer trials and treatment services, it may change your health outcome or course of treatment.