Sometimes, understanding the details can change your cancer journey.
Meet people whose cancer biomarker testing gave them and their doctors the information needed to move forward in their treatment journey.
See their biomarker stories:Living with lung cancer
Erica, living with
lung cancer
Erica was celebrating her 45th birthday when she had to be admitted to the emergency room for diverticulitis. During her visit, doctors performed a scan that unexpectedly revealed a spot on her lung. She had no symptoms of cancer, but additional testing later confirmed she had stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.
Erica’s oncologist suggested biomarker testing to help inform the care team’s treatment recommendation. While she originally wasn’t sure what to ask when she heard the word “cancer,” the results gave her more information and helped her care team make informed decisions about her treatment.
Biomarker testing helped inform her treatment plan. Erica's scans later showed no evidence of disease.
As a busy mom of three, she enjoys spending time outdoors, attending concerts, fostering animals through her local rescue group, and taking trips with her family.
Biomarker testing played an important role in my treatment choices. Now when anyone diagnosed with cancer asks me for advice, I recommend they talk to their doctor about biomarker testing.
Living with breast cancer
Anna, living with
breast cancer
Anna was 31 when she noticed changes in her breast. While initial tests did not provide an explanation, she sensed something was wrong. Since breast cancer testing is not always considered at such a young age, Anna advocated firmly for herself and pursued additional testing that confirmed she had breast cancer.
Throughout her journey, Anna prioritized understanding her diagnosis and actively participating in decisions about her care. That commitment became especially important when follow up scans showed her cancer had progressed, eventually spreading to her spine, brain, and bones.
As she underwent additional treatment to address the spread of her cancer, her care team recommended biomarker testing to see whether the cancer had changed in a way that could affect her treatment options. The results did not show any changes, helping Anna and her care team feel confident with their current approach.
Anna's willingness to advocate for herself made a critical difference in her care. Today, Anna and her fiancé offer free coaching to those newly diagnosed with cancer. They encourage them to speak up, ask questions, and bring a loved one to appointments whenever possible.
Anna enjoys daily beach walks, traveling, spending time with her cats, and being part of a wellness community.
Biomarker testing helped my doctor determine whether my cancer had changed in a way that might affect my treatment. The results supported continuing with the treatment I was on.
Living with ovarian cancer
Lavene, living with
ovarian cancer
Lavene was 38 years old when she began experiencing heavy bleeding, pain, bloating, and shortness of breath. With a history of cancer on both sides of her family, she immediately sought medical attention. Doctors found a tumor on her ovary, and additional testing confirmed she had stage IVB endometrial and ovarian cancers.
Following her diagnosis, Lavene partnered with her care team to navigate her treatment journey. They recommended biomarker testing, which gave her and her doctor more information as they planned her care, including surgery and chemotherapy. Having more information about her specific cancer helped her feel more informed during an overwhelming time.
Reflecting on her experience, Lavene also realizes how valuable it would have been to understand her family's health information earlier and what to watch for.
She hopes sharing her experience can help others start these conversations and bring greater awareness to biomarker testing.
She enjoys graphic design, continuing to grow in her faith, and spending time with her family.
I knew nothing about these tests before I had cancer, but I wish I had.
A doctor's view: Why should you Meet Your Mark?
Dr Mark Socinski
“Biomarker testing may help doctors decode their patients’ cancer and guide treatment decisions,” says Dr Mark Socinski, an oncologist and executive medical director of the AdventHealth Cancer Institute in Orlando.
Over his 35-year career, Dr Socinski has seen cancer care become more personalized to each patient. Today, doctors may use biomarker testing to learn more about a person’s unique cancer and help guide treatment decisions. However, many of his patients are unfamiliar with biomarker testing.
Dr Socinski describes biomarker testing as looking closely at the tumor to learn more about it. Patients and families are often eager to begin treatment, but biomarker testing can take time. Dr Socinski notes that waiting for test results can help care teams make more informed treatment decisions. Rather than starting a treatment immediately that may not be the appropriate fit, those results can provide insights that help identify treatment options tailored to a patient’s unique cancer. He encourages patients and caregivers to ask their healthcare teams whether biomarker testing may be appropriate and when results may be available.
Biomarker testing helps us move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and gives us important information to have a more informed conversation about treatment.
Check out resources from cancer organizations and advocacy groups, including information on specific cancer types
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US-113641 Last Updated 9/26
