01
Mar
Personalized medicine from Chicago oncologist allows for greater care of cancer patients
Personalized medicine has begun changing the face of medical oncology, allowing patients to receive care on a case by case basis and to live a more active life while receiving treatment.
“One of the developments in medical oncology in 2010 and 2011 is what’s called personalized medicine,” Dr. Dean Tsarwhas, MD, selected by TopTierMD as one of Chicago’s top rated oncologists, says. “With personalized medicine we look at the biological and genetic features of a particular cancer and decide on the treatment on a patient by patient basis. We use specific treatments depending on the features of the cancer.”
Because personalized courses of treatment are used for each patient, recovery time can vary depending on what methods are used.
“Some courses of treatment like hormonal therapies can include taking medications at home without a lot of side effects,” Dr. Tsarwhas says. “But certain chemotherapy must be administered in the office and may require additional medication. Newer supportive care drugs, however, can reduce side effects like nausea and allow for a more active life.”
Medical oncology has changed a great deal in the last decade or so, Dr. Tsarwhas says, and one of the major reasons is the advent of biologic treatments.
“Biologic therapy is the use of drugs that affect the biology of the cancer as opposed to the chemical nature,” Dr. Tsarwhas says. “Drugs like Avistan, which affects how the blood vessels in a tumor grow, and Tarceva, which affects the biology of a particular type of lung cancer, are being developed in clinical trials to supplement other forms of treatment.”
Dr. Tsarwhas uses new medications and treatments devised in clinical trials in order to improve the life and prognosis of his patients.
“Development of clinical trials allows medical oncologists to explore new drugs and new drug combinations to better treat many types of cancers,” Dr. Tsarwhas says. “We are actively involved in clinical trials in our practice to better treat and to maintain the state-of-the-art treatment of many cancers. Patients are living longer and living better lives and we have improved the curability of many cancers.”
Dr. Dean Tsarwhas, MD, was selected by TopTierMD as a Chicago Top Doctor and is considered Best in Oncology in Chicago. He specializes in breast cancer, hematology and chemotherapy.
“One of the developments in medical oncology in 2010 and 2011 is what’s called personalized medicine,” Dr. Dean Tsarwhas, MD, selected by TopTierMD as one of Chicago’s top rated oncologists, says. “With personalized medicine we look at the biological and genetic features of a particular cancer and decide on the treatment on a patient by patient basis. We use specific treatments depending on the features of the cancer.”
Because personalized courses of treatment are used for each patient, recovery time can vary depending on what methods are used.
“Some courses of treatment like hormonal therapies can include taking medications at home without a lot of side effects,” Dr. Tsarwhas says. “But certain chemotherapy must be administered in the office and may require additional medication. Newer supportive care drugs, however, can reduce side effects like nausea and allow for a more active life.”
Medical oncology has changed a great deal in the last decade or so, Dr. Tsarwhas says, and one of the major reasons is the advent of biologic treatments.
“Biologic therapy is the use of drugs that affect the biology of the cancer as opposed to the chemical nature,” Dr. Tsarwhas says. “Drugs like Avistan, which affects how the blood vessels in a tumor grow, and Tarceva, which affects the biology of a particular type of lung cancer, are being developed in clinical trials to supplement other forms of treatment.”
Dr. Tsarwhas uses new medications and treatments devised in clinical trials in order to improve the life and prognosis of his patients.
“Development of clinical trials allows medical oncologists to explore new drugs and new drug combinations to better treat many types of cancers,” Dr. Tsarwhas says. “We are actively involved in clinical trials in our practice to better treat and to maintain the state-of-the-art treatment of many cancers. Patients are living longer and living better lives and we have improved the curability of many cancers.”
Dr. Dean Tsarwhas, MD, was selected by TopTierMD as a Chicago Top Doctor and is considered Best in Oncology in Chicago. He specializes in breast cancer, hematology and chemotherapy.
