What is “Precision” Medicine?
Have you ever wondered why some people are more to develop a certain illness, or why certain medicines work better for one person than for another? Healthcare that takes individual differences into account is known as “precision” medicine,” “targeted medicine” or “personalized medicine.”
treatments based on individual traits
In precision medicine doctors treat patients based on their individual differences instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach. These treatments are not necessarily created for one person, but can be developed to treat groups of people with similar characteristics like their:
- Genes
- Environment and
- Lifestyle
How Does Precision Medicine Work?
A medical professional using precision medicine can look at your genes, environment, and lifestyle to predict what diseases or conditions you are more likely to develop – and then identify the best treatment for you. It can help with:
- Predicting Diseases: Where traditional medicine waits for symptoms to appear, precision medicine can be more proactive, predict if you might get sick, and take action early. This makes treatments more effective.
- Using DNA for Treatments: Doctors study your DNA to find out which treatments will work best for you. This can help you and your doctor choose drugs that are most effective and will have fewer side effects.
- Cancer Treatment: In cancer care, doctors look at the genetic makeup of the cancer cells in your body and choose the best treatment to target the cancerous cells without harming healthy ones. Genetic testing can also identify people who are at risk for certain cancers and monitor for any symptoms.
- Understanding Your Genes and Environment: Your environment – like stress level or where you live – can influence your genes. This is called “genomics.” Understanding how your genes interact with your environment helps researchers create better treatments.
- Microbiomes: Your body has many microorganisms (such as in your gut) that affect your health. Different patterns of these microorganisms, or microbiomes, can be linked to diseases.
how can it improve our health?
Precision medicine can improve health equity by providing more accurate treatments and by:
- Providing Access to Better Quality Care: Ensuring everyone gets the best care, no matter your background.
- Empowering Patients: Helping people learn more about their health and make better informed decisions.
- Improving Treatment Plans: We often face health challenges like higher risks for diabetes and high blood pressure. Precision medicine helps create better treatment plans depending upon our specific risks for developing these conditions.
- Understanding Genetic Differences: Looking at our genetic information helps doctors find the most effective treatments.
- Reducing Health Disparities: Precision medicine can improve our health by providing care tailored to our specific needs.
How to Learn More?
Precision medicine is a new way to make healthcare more effective and personalized. Want to learn more?
- Talk to Your Doctor: Ask how precision medicine might benefit you.
- Stay Informed: The National Cancer Institute offers information about the Precision Medicine Initiative and its role in cancer research. In addition, the American Cancer Society provides information about precision medicine in cancer.
See sources here.