Prostate cancer is often daunting for most people, and the subsequent waiting can feel equally horrible. For many patients, families, and caregivers, one of the most pressing concerns is determining, "What is the optimal treatment for my case?" Modern technology offers solutions like the Decipher test. It's not like any other test you have done in a hospital because it helps in understanding your cancer better, allowing you and your oncologist to make more treatment decisions with less ambiguity.
This guide does more than provide suggestions on the test's usefulness. It thoughtfully explains, step by step, the underlying logic behind the prostate cancer treatment. Patient education is becoming more and more a part of the healing process, and by understanding more about their cancer, cancer patients can always better inform the actions they need to take.
Prostate cancer is one of the most aggressive types of cancer. It has a reputation for tormenting the male part of the population since it attacks the prostate. Prostate cancer doesn't typically have defining symptoms at the early stages. Its symptoms include the need to pee frequently, often accompanied by a burning sensation, and a weak stream. These symptoms are due to the growth of the prostate, causing pressure on the urethra.
Some kinds of prostate cancer develop slowly, while some aggressive cases can spread quickly. The more advanced a cancer type is, the harder it is to identify. With modern technologies like the Decipher Test, the identification can be much simpler.
As a genomic test, the Decipher test focuses on prostate cancer specifically. It advances beyond traditional tests like checking PSA levels and Gleason scores since it focuses on the gene activity within the cancer cells.
Understanding the strain of cancer an individual has is crucial. The Decipher Test can be helpful in this regard. It checks the genetic makeup of the cancer to determine how aggressive it is. Knowing if a cancer type is aggressive or if it is calm helps doctors create a more customised treatment plan.
As with most tests, the process starts with a sample of the tumors. The sample can be either from biopsies or the tissue removed from the surgery. From here, researchers can begin analysing the gene activity of dozens of genes associated with cancer.
The scores are given as a value between zero and one. Low scores indicate lower aggressiveness in cancer, and a higher score indicates a greater risk for it to spread or recur. This score, while numerical in form, is not just a number in this case, because it quantifies a distinct piece of information that can assist in formulating the treatment approach.
A low-scoring man may elect to practice watchful waiting instead of immediate surgery or radiation therapy.
On the other hand, a high-scoring patient may benefit from more aggressive treatment during the initial phases to lower the chances of spread.
Treating prostate cancer is not as simple as treating other cancers. Even patients with identical PSA and tumor stage can have very different responses and outcomes. Relying on traditional indicators without additional genomic information can be misleading.
The Decipher test enhances clarity and assists in the following:
Preventing overtreatment - Over-surgery or radiation is a common problem where some men receive treatment for cancers that wouldn't have ever resulted in a problem. The test can help men avoid the harsh surgery or radiation treatment by tailoring cancer treatment more effectively.
Selecting suitable treatment intensity - This is critical for aggressive cancers as it guarantees that the treatment is sufficient to reduce the chances of recurrence.
Post-operative treatment decision support - In the case of post-operative prostate cancer metastasis, the test can indicate if post-operative radiation therapy will be beneficial in curbing the chances of cancer recurrence.
Consider two sixty-year-old men with nearly identical PSA levels and biopsy results. To a casual observer, they might seem identical. But when their tumors undergo Decipher testing, one scores very low and the other very high. A low scorer can opt for active surveillance and minimise the impact on their quality of life. High scorers can begin targeted treatment immediately to minimise the chances of metastasis. Without the test, they would both be "optimally" treated with the same intervention, despite their bombs of cancers behaving very differently.
The test can be performed at different intervals in the management of prostate cancer.
At the time of diagnosis, assists in the identification of active surveillance versus treatment initiation.
Post-surgery - Assess if additional therapies need to be administered to mitigate the chances of recurrence.
Advanced Cases – Assists in determining the treatment options for cancers that metastasise beyond the prostate.
Not every patient will need this, but it can be quite helpful in situations when there is ambiguity regarding how aggressive the cancer is in metastasising.
A prostate cancer diagnosis brings a lot of uncertainty. Cancer's journey is incredibly unpredictable. The timelines of cancer recurrence, treatment timelines, and treatment types – aggressive or wait-and-watch- are challenging to estimate. The Decipher Test does not have the means to predict the future with certainty, but it does eliminate a significant amount of guesswork. Knowing more about their cancer helps patients assess the risks and benefits of each treatment option with greater confidence because the treatment plan relies on more information.
No two cases of prostate cancer are exactly identical. The use of genomic information that the Decipher test provides helps customise treatment for each individual, marking a significant advancement in cancer care. Understanding the genetics of the tumour enables more informed and timely decisions for intervention or restraint.
If you or someone you care about has to make a treatment decision for prostate cancer, consider asking for genomic tests like Decipher. With sufficient information, you will be more equipped to make informed decisions on the treatment path to take. Having information in this case helps reduce stress and anxiety.
1. Is the Decipher test comparable to the PSA test?
No, both are entirely different. The Decipher Test is associated with genomic cancer risk assessment, while the PSA test is an indicator of prostate-specific antigen in blood, which might pre-empt a problem. It is through both tests that the decision is made. In some circumstances, the PSA test is the only indicator of the antigen level, but it does not indicate how aggressively the disease has advanced.
2. Does every prostate cancer patient need the decipher test?
Although it is not very common, the test is generally useful. In case two options are available, the decision is based on how advanced the cancer is
3. Can the decipher test change my treatment plan?
Yes. In cases of indecisive situations, both radiogenic and genomic cubosomal control systems may be an option.