What is Precision Medicine?

Cancer care is changing quickly. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, precision medicine personalizes treatment by analyzing the unique genetic material that drives each cancer but also a patient’s lifestyle and environmental factors. This means your care plan isn’t just based on averages—it’s built specifically for you.

By tailoring treatments to your specific cancer, precision medicine can:

• Improve outcomes by using personalized treatments that are most likely to work for you
• Reduce unnecessary side effects from treatments that don’t fit your cancer profile
• Open doors to new options like targeted therapies and clinical trials

Why precision medicine can help improve Your Care:

Your DNA—and the DNA of your cancer—hold powerful clues. Testing your cancer’s genes enables us to identify your cancer at the molecular level. With this information, we can match you with therapies that directly target your tumor’s mutations.

Our approach helps answer questions like:

• Will a targeted drug be more effective than chemotherapy?
• Is immunotherapy likely to work for me?
• Are there treatments available I may not have considered?

When Standard Treatments Aren’t Enough: Clinical Trials

If traditional treatments aren’t effective, clinical trials can provide new hope. Precision medicine has unlocked a generation of trials designed around specific genetic mutations. These give patients access to cutting-edge therapies—often years before they’re widely available.

At New England Cancer Specialists, we partner with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to connect patients to the latest trial opportunities.

Staying Ahead of Evolving Science

Cancer research moves fast. What wasn’t available a year ago might now be standard. Precision medicine ensures you’re not left behind as new genetic insights, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies emerge.

Our team continually evaluates new research, so your treatment evolves with the science. That’s why it’s important to keep asking about new options throughout your care.

A Team Approach to Personalized Care

Precision medicine isn’t just one doctor—it’s a team effort. At NECS, your care team may include:

• Medical Oncologists
• Genetic Counselors
• Pathologists
• Pharmacists
• Nurse navigators
• Nutritionists and Oncology Counselors

Together, they build a treatment plan that fits your biology, your lifestyle, and your values. Ultimately, you remain the decision-maker, supported by experts who understand your unique journey.

Why Choose New England Cancer Specialists?

We believe precision medicine should be the standard—not the exception. That’s why it’s at the foundation of every treatment plan we create. By combining the latest science with compassionate, team-based care, we ensure every patient has access to therapies designed with them in mind.