Robin McGee has been living with stage four colorectal cancer for the past 13 years 害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淢y cancer was like a freight train, and this precision medicine slammed on the brakes,害羞草研究所� she said in an interview after taking part in a series of discussions organized by the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 prevented very serious pain and disability.害羞草研究所�

McGee said she had run out of treatment options paid for by the province. At her own expense, she arranged to have her tumour subjected to a genomic analysis, which would tell her about its mutations. The results pointed to an unusual therapy: a drug typically used to treat other forms of cancer.

After purchasing the drug in Bangladesh, she started treatment in July with her oncologist害羞草研究所檚 approval.

害羞草研究所淢y cancer blood markers have plummeted, showing I was responding (to the medication),害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚f we could make cancer treatment 害羞草研究所� responsive to individual biomarkers of mutations, as in my case, we害羞草研究所檇 save a lot more lives.害羞草研究所�

When the cancer centres network was established in 2019, it brought together Canada害羞草研究所檚 leading cancer hospitals and research universities for the first time. The organization has been described as the 害羞草研究所淭eam Canada of cancer research.害羞草研究所�

With advanced research focused on finding harmful genetic mutations, the network has been hard at work sorting harmful mutations from benign ones by compiling genetic profile data from patients across Canada.

In the past, this kind of data sharing was hindered by provinces害羞草研究所� reluctance to transmit sensitive health information across borders. The network now provides a secure platform.

害羞草研究所淲e are building Canada害羞草研究所檚 most comprehensive resource when it comes to cancer,害羞草研究所� said Robin Urquhart, co-leader of the Atlantic Cancer Consortium, which is part of the network.

害羞草研究所淚t includes clinical data and genomic data from patients across the country. That allows us to do a lot of things, like identifying different markers in blood that can detect cancer earlier 害羞草研究所�. (Precision medicine) is about being able to match every cancer patient to the best treatment possible.害羞草研究所�

Urquhart said the meetings in Halifax marked the first time researchers within the network gathered with cancer patients, survivors and caregivers to talk about the future of precision medicine.

害羞草研究所淭his group has come together 害羞草研究所� to help guide our work,害羞草研究所� said Urquhart, an associate professor in the department of community health and epidemiology at Dalhousie University in Halifax. 害羞草研究所淲e want to make sure that the work we害羞草研究所檙e doing aligns with what patients want.害羞草研究所�

Urquhart said she wanted to learn from patients and their relatives about their experiences with precision medicine and what might prevent some from taking part.

害羞草研究所淭hey have the biggest stake in this data,害羞草研究所� she said.

As for McGee, she has no doubt about its value.

害羞草研究所淚t is the wave of the future,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭he miracles of today can be the standard of care tomorrow.害羞草研究所�

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