Cancer patients and survivors gather to talk about the future of ‘precision medicine’ – CTV
Nov. 16, 2023
HALIFAX – Robin McGee has been living with stage four colorectal cancer for the past 13 years – a remarkable feat given the seriousness of her condition.
On Wednesday, the 62-year-old Nova Scotia resident travelled to Halifax, where she and 30 other cancer patients and survivors from nine provinces talked to researchers about their experiences with something called precision medicine. It’s an approach tailoring treatment for individual patients, taking into account the genetic make-up of each tumour and the personal characteristics of each patient.
For McGee, this data-driven approach to cancer research and treatment has been life-changing.
“My cancer was like a freight train, and this precision medicine slammed on the brakes,” she said in an interview after taking part in a series of discussions organized by the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network. “It’s prevented very serious pain and disability.”
