Kathy, like over 40% of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients, was diagnosed when her cancer was already Stage 4 and terminal.
The good news?
Genomic testing of Kathy’s cancer identified a specific gene for which there is a targeted treatment. Kathy takes a daily pill that is currently keeping her alive.
“If every single lung cancer patient in Australia had access to this technology, their treatments will be improved, their outcomes will be improved, their quality of life will be improved”
Christa Bayer – Lung Cancer Foundation.
Acknowledging the importance of genomics in cancer care, in November 2023 the Government funded genetic testing for a small panel of lung-cancer gene mutations. However, the application development and approval process took almost a decade to complete. New treatments and target genes continue to be identified. Patients cannot afford lengthy delays to access updated tests and therapy.
Further inequities in accessing timely diagnostics come through disparities in infrastructure, challenges in access to advanced instrumentation, and the relevant knowledge for clinicians to order and interpret genetic-based tests.
We need system-wide evolution in how we fund and access genetic testing so patients like Kathy have the best chance of survival.
When time to diagnosis and access to genomic profiling is so critical to patient outcome – why are some lung cancer patients still waiting too long for life-saving results?
Hear Kathy’s story and the impassioned plea from Lung Cancer Foundation’s Christa Bayer
Visit The Missing Piece website to learn more about the importance of pathology technology—providing the right test, for the right patient, at the right time.