FT Health: Combating Cancer

Have blunt instrument drugs like chemotherapy had their day? Plus: genetic research makes personalised treatments a reality, the push to immunotherapy, apps that extend lives, the scourge of western lifestyles and the ‘toxicity’ of cancer drugs’ cost

Cutting-edge treatment heralds era of cancer genetics
Patients with an adverse prognosis may benefit particularly from new genomic approach to disease
Drug costs prompt fears of ‘financial toxicity’ in cancer care
High prices subject some patients to long-term collateral damage to incomes and health
Spread of western lifestyle hampers battle against cancer
Obesity poised to overtake smoking as leading risk factor, warn researchers
Oncologists dare to talk of a ‘cure’ in fight against cancer
Genetic research advances are making truly personalised treatments a reality
Big Pharma on mission to bring immunotherapy to more patients
Combining established drugs with experimental medicines has raised survival rates
Vital-signs monitoring app helps extend cancer patients’ lives
System forewarns doctors when sufferer’s symptoms deteriorate