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Scientific breakthroughs and novel treatments have improved results drastically in the previous two decades, extending the life expectancy of some patients significantly.
Lung cancer treatment is being revolutionized by precision medicine.
This transformation is emblematic of a larger trend in health care today: the rise of precision medicine. In the past, most medical therapies were created with the typical patient in mind. Because everyone is unique, this one-size-fits-all approach has resulted in treatments that are effective for some patients but not for others.
However, as researchers have discovered the genetic alterations that cause healthy cells to become malignant, tailored medicines — smart bombs aimed exactly at chemicals prevalent in cancer cells but not in healthy cells — have become possible.
Why is EGFR important in the treatment of lung cancer?
EGFR is a protein found in epithelial tissue, which includes the outer layer of skin as well as the lining of internal organs and cavities, such as the lungs and the gut.
EGFR acts as a switch in healthy tissue, directing the cell to divide and expand appropriately in response to changes in its environment. A mutation in the gene that makes the EGFR protein, on the other hand, can result in uncontrolled cell growth.
Five FDA-approved medicines targeting the renegade EGFR protein have been developed for the treatment of lung cancer. Gefitinib (Iressa), erlotinib (Tarceva), and afatinib are examples of EGFR inhibitors (Gilotrif).
Fortunately, the vast majority of patients who are treated with EGFR inhibitors have a good response, with their malignancies being held at bay for up to two years. Other treatments may then be used to help some individuals live longer.
Promise vs. reality of targeted therapy
Targeted therapy, while its promise, is not without flaws. For starters, EGFR inhibitors only benefit cancer patients who have the EGFR mutation, and they don't help cancer patients who don't. Second, while some people see their cancer almost totally disappear, for others, the treatment just slows tumor growth. Perhaps most disappointing, even in patients who respond well to treatment, the medication ceases working after a year or two as tumor cells' resistance to the treatments increase. The approach of taking many tissue samples of tumors during a patient's treatment was used to try to unravel this puzzle.
Changes in treatment have resulted from the realization that not all cancer cells are alike, even within a single patient. Until a few years ago, doctors would abandon a treatment if a tumor continued to develop in one place of the body.
A new therapeutic strategy emerges.
Doctors can keep the therapy that is working for the majority of the body while focusing on the one location where cancer has gotten out of hand.
Repeat biopsies may also enable the cancer team to pinpoint the specific genetic mutation that is causing a patient's tumor to become resistant to treatment, and then recommend a new medicine that targets that mutation.
© 2024. All rights reserved.
Scientific breakthroughs and novel treatments have improved results drastically in the previous two decades, extending the life expectancy of some patients significantly.
Lung cancer treatment is being revolutionized by precision medicine.
This transformation is emblematic of a larger trend in health care today: the rise of precision medicine. In the past, most medical therapies were created with the typical patient in mind. Because everyone is unique, this one-size-fits-all approach has resulted in treatments that are effective for some patients but not for others.
However, as researchers have discovered the genetic alterations that cause healthy cells to become malignant, tailored medicines — smart bombs aimed exactly at chemicals prevalent in cancer cells but not in healthy cells — have become possible.
Why is EGFR important in the treatment of lung cancer?
EGFR is a protein found in epithelial tissue, which includes the outer layer of skin as well as the lining of internal organs and cavities, such as the lungs and the gut.
EGFR acts as a switch in healthy tissue, directing the cell to divide and expand appropriately in response to changes in its environment. A mutation in the gene that makes the EGFR protein, on the other hand, can result in uncontrolled cell growth.
Five FDA-approved medicines targeting the renegade EGFR protein have been developed for the treatment of lung cancer. Gefitinib (Iressa), erlotinib (Tarceva), and afatinib are examples of EGFR inhibitors (Gilotrif).
Fortunately, the vast majority of patients who are treated with EGFR inhibitors have a good response, with their malignancies being held at bay for up to two years. Other treatments may then be used to help some individuals live longer.
Promise vs. reality of targeted therapy
Targeted therapy, while its promise, is not without flaws. For starters, EGFR inhibitors only benefit cancer patients who have the EGFR mutation, and they don't help cancer patients who don't. Second, while some people see their cancer almost totally disappear, for others, the treatment just slows tumor growth. Perhaps most disappointing, even in patients who respond well to treatment, the medication ceases working after a year or two as tumor cells' resistance to the treatments increase. The approach of taking many tissue samples of tumors during a patient's treatment was used to try to unravel this puzzle.
Changes in treatment have resulted from the realization that not all cancer cells are alike, even within a single patient. Until a few years ago, doctors would abandon a treatment if a tumor continued to develop in one place of the body.
A new therapeutic strategy emerges.
Doctors can keep the therapy that is working for the majority of the body while focusing on the one location where cancer has gotten out of hand.
Repeat biopsies may also enable the cancer team to pinpoint the specific genetic mutation that is causing a patient's tumor to become resistant to treatment, and then recommend a new medicine that targets that mutation.
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© 2024. All rights reserved.
Our aim is to offer better technology to healthcare providers who in turn can provide better care for the health seekers.
Just go to the S10.Clinic website and click on the "Book appointment" button on the homepage of the website/app, select a specialty and find the doctor of your choice. Once you select a doctor, you can click on the "Consult Online" button to select your preferred date and time.
Once you select the date and time all you have to do is sign up / login to the platform and make the payment online using your credit / debit card on the Razor pay or CC Avenue gateway. Then, you will receive the consultation link via sms / email.
Our online consultation platform is optimized for the following browsers: Google Chrome and Safari. Please ensure you are free 10 minutes prior to your appointment.
All you have to do is find a well light and quiet place with good internet connectivity, preferably a place with Wi-Fi access. Switch on your microphone (for laptop / mobile and allow browser to access it).
Please note: If you are not able to open the link please delete your browser history and cache files of your browser and try again.
This may happen due to poor internet connectivity. In such cases, please check your internet connection and if the issue persists, please reach out to us at onlineconsulting@s10.clinic with the screenshot of the error and we will get this checked from our end. You can also call us at 044-40510510.
Please note: Please ensure you have given access to your audio and video to your browser in the settings panel.
You will receive an email after the online consultation with the following - Provisional diagnosis, visit notes, prescription and follow up.
Yes. The prescription generated during the online consultation is as good as a physical prescription and will be valid for 6 months from the date of issue (as per government regulations).
You will be able to speak and interact with the doctor only for the time he has specified.
Yes. The e-prescription will be valid for offline pharmacies as well.
Safety of your data is our top priority. We have multi-level security checks, multiple data backups, and stringent policies in place to ensure your data remains safe and secure. Additionally, we are a HIPAA compliant company and we take data privacy and security very seriously. All data on S10.Clinic is secured with 256-bit encryption.
All the patients who use the S10.Clinic platform will be called and verified by our support squad before their consultation with the doctors.
You don't have to worry about it. In that case an automatic refund is initiated from our end, and it will reflect in your bank account within 6-7 business days.
Or you can reach out to us at 044-40510510 or onlineconsulting@s10.clinic and we will be happy to help you.
Don't worry if you've missed the online call with the, you can easily reschedule the call with your preferred doctor 10 minutes prior to any consultation. All you have to do is click on the "Reschedule" option in the appointment email.
Or you can reach out to us at 044-40510510 and we can book the same for you.
Please note: If you do not show up or miss an appointment after your appointment time, you won't be able to reschedule it.
You can reschedule any appointment you make 10 minutes before the consultation free of cost. If you want to reschedule any appointment after the consultation time has started you will have to book a new appointment with your preferred doctor. No refund will be offered in such cases.
After the online consultation you will receive a feedback form where you can rate your experience and tell us what went well, what we need to work on. We take your feedback very seriously and this helps us to improve our app and our services.
We're always there for you! You can reach out to our Support Squad at 044-40510510 or send us an email at onlineconsulting@s10.clinic. You can also dm us on Facebook we will be happy to assist you.
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