Συχνές ερωτήσεις

Πρέπει κάθε καρκινοπαθής να κάνει γενετικές εξετάσεις;

Οι εξετάσεις αυτές γίνονται μόνο εάν ο ασθενής πάσχει από κάποιο τύπο καρκίνου που έχει ανταπόκριση σε κάποια στοχευμένη θεραπεία. Ο γιατρός είναι αυτός που θα κρίνει αν τελικά ο ασθενής θα ξεκινήσει μία  από αυτές τις θεραπείες.

Μπορώ να λάβω μία από αυτές τις θεραπείες αλλά να μην τελικά επωφεληθώ αυτές;

Ναι, οι περισσότεροι καρκινοπαθείς που έχουν τα σχετικά κριτήρια θα ωφεληθούν αλλά ένα ποσοστό αυτών όχι. Κάθε άτομο και κάθε καρκίνος είναι διαφορετικός.

Μπορώ να πάρω φάρμακο στοχευμένης θεραπείας χωρίς να έχω εξεταστεί;

Στις περισσότερες περιπτώσεις αυτό δεν συνιστάται.Τα φάρμακα έχουν αναπτυχθεί με συγκεκριμένες προδιαγραφές και ο καρκίνος σας έχει ελάχιστες πιθανότητες να ανταποκριθεί αν δεν πληροί κοινά αναγνωρισμένα κριτήρια.

Μπορούν οι μοριακές εξετάσεις να γίνουν στο γραφείο του γιατρού μου ή στο τοπικό εργαστήριο του νοσοκομείου μου;

Οι εξετάσεις απαιτούν εξειδικευμένο εξοπλισμό και δεν γίνονται σε όλα τα εργαστήρια. Στις περισσότερες περιπτώσεις τα δείγματα θα σταλθούν σε ένα εργαστήριο αναφοράς.

Πηγές

• Linnea Baudhuin, Phd, DABMG. Assistant Professor of Laboratory Medicine. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
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