What is my biomarker? THE question to ask

What is my biomarker?

A newly diagnosed lung cancer patient should ask this question before starting treatment. Why? Because the answer to this question can change the odds and the choices for your personalized treatment plan, especially for Black or African American patients.

Black and African Americans must ask their doctors, “What is my biomarker?” to ensure they receive the latest targeted therapy treatment that is applicable. Hear from Dr. Sydney Barned and Brandi Bryant in this episode as they discuss their care and what a difference it made in knowing their biomarkers. And maybe even more importantly, they are advocating that every black or African American should ask that question, “What is my biomarker?” 

There are more options for treating lung cancer and they want to make sure every black or African American patient, like everybody, else gains access to that full range of options.

Why do Biomarkers matter in lung cancer treatment?

Minority and underserved communities must advocate for themselves to get the best treatments, especially treatment that can increase the quality of their lives. Guest Dr. Osarogiagbon dives into not only the importance of asking, “what is my biomarker?”, but why it is essential that Black and African Americans make this question a priority. Thanks to lung cancer research, he’s really excited that lots of biomarkers have been discovered to help doctors split what used to be a single disease, into a disease of many different bits and of different sizes. 

Understanding biomarkers now allows doctors to predict how the cancer is going to behave. And then determine what treatment is most likely to benefit the patient, in terms of surviving lung cancer - and the quality of life, in response to cancer treatment. 

“So, you go from 4% to 6% five-year survival, to up to 60%, if you get the right treatment for right cancer. As with ALK mutated lung cancer, so with some of the other subsets, the EGFR mutated lung cancers, the ROS1 mutated lung cancers, the BRAFF mutated lung cancers, the MET exon 14 mutated lung cancer, all... There are at least nine subsets of biomarker-driven lung cancers, and that continues to change all the time. So, that's why it's vital that we get tested, so we know which treatment would benefit us.”

- Dr. Raymond Osarogiagbon

Guests:

Dr. Sydney Barned, a hospitalist at Ann Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Maryland, a lung cancer patient, and a member of the LCFA Speakers Bureau

Brandi Bryant, a lung cancer patient, and a member of the LCFA Speakers Bureau

Dr. Raymond Osarogiagbon, Chief Scientist for Baptist Memorial Health Care, Director of Baptist Cancer Center’s Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program and Thoracic Oncology Research Group, and Principal Investigator of Baptist’s Mid-South Minority-Underserved Consortium initiative, NCORP, in Memphis, Tennessee

Show Notes | Transcript | Watch the video

Resources:

What Do I Need to Know About Biomarker Testing?

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

What is a Liquid Biopsy for Lung Cancer?

7 Signs of Lung Cancer You Should Know

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