Biomarkers & Precision Medicine
Reading Your Genomic Report: A Patient Guide
Why genomic reports can feel overwhelming
Genomic reports often contain genes, variants, fusions, amplifications, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, and therapy associations. The report can be useful, but it is not a treatment plan by itself.
Key sections to understand
Patients should look for specimen type, tumor fraction or adequacy, actionable alterations, FDA-approved therapies, clinical trial matches, variants of unknown significance, and limitations of the assay.
Important questions
Ask your oncologist: Is this alteration driving my cancer? Is there an approved therapy for my diagnosis? Is the evidence from my cancer type or another cancer type? Are there resistance mutations? Does this qualify me for a trial?
What not to do
Do not start supplements based only on a gene name. Human tumor genomics is not the same as consumer wellness genetics, and pathway assumptions can be misleading.
Practical takeaways
- Keep your oncology team informed about supplements, special diets, fasting, herbs, cannabis products, and complementary therapies.
- Prioritize the foundations that are safest and most evidence-aligned: adequate nutrition, movement when appropriate, sleep rhythm, symptom tracking, and clear communication.
- Avoid any plan that asks you to delay or replace recommended oncology treatment.
- Use testing, biomarkers, and lifestyle strategies only when they answer a clear clinical question and lead to a safer, individualized plan.
How SANAVITA Health approaches this
SANAVITA Health provides physician-led integrative oncology education and support with a focus on clarity, safety, whole-person care, and collaboration. The goal is to help patients understand their options, reduce avoidable risk, and build a supportive plan that fits their diagnosis, treatment phase, values, and care team recommendations.
Research references
- Moding EJ, et al. Circulating tumor DNA minimal residual disease in solid tumors. Cancer Discovery. 2021 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8976700/
- Honoré N, et al. Liquid Biopsy to Detect Minimal Residual Disease. Frontiers in Oncology. 2021 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8582541/
- Chen K, et al. Commercial ctDNA assays for minimal residual disease detection of solid tumors. Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy. 2021 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9016631/
- National Cancer Institute. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Patients https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient
