Targeted therapies are designed to attack specific genetic mutations or proteins that drive cancer growth. These precision medicines can be highly effective for patients with certain genetic profiles.

Key Benefits:

– Often more effective and less toxic than traditional chemotherapy for patients with specific genetic mutations

– Can be taken orally, allowing for treatment at home

– May provide better quality of life during treatment

Examples for Lung Cancer:

– Osimertinib (Tagrisso) for EGFR mutations

– Alectinib (Alecensa) for ALK rearrangements

– Crizotinib (Xalkori) for ROS1 rearrangements

– Dabrafenib (Tafinlar) for BRAF-mutated tumours

– Tepotinib (Tepmetko) for MET exon 14 skipping mutations or MET amplifications

– Sotorasib (Lumykras) for KRAS G12C mutation

Examples for Skin Cancer:

– Vemurafenib (Zelboraf) or Dabrafenib (Tafinlar) for BRAF-mutated melanoma

– Vismodegib (Erivedge) for advanced basal cell carcinoma

Administration: Most targeted therapies are taken orally as tablets or capsules, usually on a daily basis.

Potential Side Effects: Side effects vary depending on the specific drug but may include skin rashes, diarrhoea, liver function changes, or rarely, lung inflammation. These are often manageable with supportive care or dose adjustments.

Private Care Advantage: Private care allows for rapid genetic testing of your tumour, ensuring you receive the most appropriate targeted therapy without delay. I can quickly arrange for comprehensive genomic profiling, which may identify additional treatment options not routinely available on the NHS.