Prioritising the Person in Personalised Cancer Medicine
The concept of Survivorship Action Plans will be new to many patients. Some of you may remember the old-style GP who had continuity of care with you and your family. With the formation of medical conglomerates, commercialisation and the necessary time constraints, this way of practising medicine became obsolete. It was replaced with what many of our cancer patients call assembly line medicine.
As an independent organisation, the Grace Gawler institute’s Survivorship Action Plans aim to put the person back into personalised medicine. We bridge the gap between oncology and personalised health care.
Survivorship Action Plan Patients endorse weekly Video Consultations.
Survivorship Action Plans require regular connection with patients. Here is what they say about weekly check ins.
Yvonne – “Since I took advantage of Grace’s weekly video consultations instead of monthly video consultations, my hope and mental state has improved significantly.”
Judi – “Grace suggested weekly calls but I thought I was coping well after my mastectomy and there was no need. I could not have been more wrong. An invaluable service.”
Alison – “I feel very spoiled (as well as very lucky) to have you for a video call on a weekly basis. I always feel wonderful for several days afterwards and look forward to the next week.”
Michael and Janice – “My husband and I benefit greatly from our weekly 30 minute video consultations with Grace. Dealing with metastatic sarcoma plus ongoing side effects was pushing us over the edge. The help and support that Grace’s weekly contact provides is priceless.”
Chas – “Speaking to you weekly really does give us a psychological pick up that is very much needed when dealing with a Brain tumour!”
What is Discussed in the weekly check-in?
For new Action Plan Patients; weekly video consultations can address emotional and psychological issues whilst helping to build resilience for the cancer journey that lies ahead.
The weekly check-ins fulfil a different purpose than the longer video consultations where much time is spent discussing cancer treatments, genomic diagnostic results, nutritional gene results, microbiome tests etc.
The Concept of Personalised Medicine
A personalised medicine practitioner such as Grace Gawler; skilfully combines this information with each individual’s medical records and personal circumstances to guide patients to treatments that are targeted against their specific cancer’s DNA mutations. These mutations are usually unique to each individual patient. We are already in the age of tailored cancer medicines, but unfortunately it is not offered in standard of care oncology situations.
Many patients tell us that despite the promise of personalised cancer treatments at diagnosis time, they were surprised to be offered a one size fits all approach.