Innovative Therapies for Late-Stage Cancer Treatment in North Carolina
In an age of ever-growing data and scientists working 24-hours around the globe, there are constant advancements regarding options for advanced-cancer treatments. While options for treatment should be dependent on where the patient’s cancer began and its path of progression, the goal of the patient remains a priority in late-stage cancer treatment options.
Whether seeking to mitigate symptoms, slow cell growth, or reach remission, there are advanced cancer treatments, and many can improve quality of life.
Surgery as a Late-Stage Cancer Treatment Option
Surgery is one of the areas of medicine that has seen the greatest advances due to technology since the turn of the century. While surgery is an option many are familiar with during the early stages of cancer treatment, it still holds effective for some in later stages.
No longer a definitively invasive option, surgery can be used to remove internal blockages or repair damage due to advanced tumor growth and improve your overall physical comfort. In some cases, tumors may press against nerves or cause weakened bones, both of which may have non-invasive surgical options to improve daily life. Some late-stage cancers may also respond to surgery as a treatment through the removal of hormone-producing tissues that encourage the spread of unwanted cells.
Cancer Clinical Trials
As recently as 2016, there were more than 400 FDA-approved treatments or clinical trials for common cancers. Researchers are feverishly working to discover safer, stronger, and more targeted ways of attacking cancer, but they can’t do it without volunteers.
Clinical trials rely on qualified volunteers to push efforts forward in late-stage cancer treatment research. For some of these patients, clinical trials provide options for hope as patients participate in a brighter future for themselves and the cancer community in its entirety. For others, the sense of purpose provided by participating alone may be beneficial enough in improving the daily struggles of late-stage cancers.
The Personalized Hematology-Oncology Treatment Method
In the practice of Drs. Castillos, patients receive customized treatment plans, targeted therapies, developed around their history of cancer treatments, their future health goals, and the genetic makings of their cancer tumors and cells.
An initiative that has been championed by board-certified oncologist, Dr. Castillos and his wife, Dr. Castillos, who holds a doctorate in Physiology, the PHO team has developed a precise and completely customizable option for those seeking treatment for advanced cancers. Through the use of gene expression profiling, Drs. Castillos determine which proteins have the largest impact on your cell growth and pair patients with FDA-approved drugs, which can target any of some 800 proteins from the human genome. With so many potential combinations, these next-level diagnostics can provide a step in the right direction for the future of late-stage cancer treatments.
Advanced Cancer Treatment Success Stories
Patients at Personalized Hematology-Oncology have found great success through the work of Drs. Castillos and PHO. One 66-year-old woman was suffering from a poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. With guidance from the testing provided by the team at PHO, she entered a clinical trial with drugs Vorinostat and Sorafanib. This female patient, we are proud to say, is in remission and remains in the trial.
Another woman, 68-years-old, was battling recurring stage IV breast cancer that had metastasized to her lungs and brain. She now displays no signs of disease. The patient was prescribed Gemcitabine and Avastin, in conjunction with radiation; a treatment suggested after gene testing was done to determine what would be most effective on her tumors.
Deciding on Late-Stage Cancer Treatment Options
While choosing whether to seek treatment for advanced cancers is an extremely personal choice, Personalized Hematology-Oncology hopes to provide patients with all information scientifically-available at this time regarding the genetic make-up of their tumors and their options for further treatment to ensure a respected and well-informed decision for everyone sharing the patient’s journey.
Read more about gene profiling for cancer.
