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Because different tests have different lengths of time to process, your healthcare team may be able to give you a specific answer. However, genomic testing generally can take 14 –21 days for the full results to come back. It’s best to ask your physician when your results will be available.

The testing that is being done will give your healthcare team information that will allow them to provide care that is personalized to your specific cancer. The test results will tell them if you do or do not have specific changes that would lead to a better experience with a certain type of treatment. In the case of genetic testing, the results will give you a sense of your risk of developing another cancer. When you receive your results, your healthcare team knows how to best interpret them and should contact you to discuss them. If you don’t hear from them or have questions about your results, don’t hesitate to contact your physician directly

These are tests that help your healthcare team diagnose many things—including the specific type of cancer you have as well as whether your cancer has specific characteristics that may have an impact on the type of treatment you will be offered. Diagnostic tests are also performed to determine the extent of your cancer and the likelihood of your cancer returning or spreading. Finally, diagnostic tests can be performed if you are not feeling well to pinpoint a reason—for example, a urinalysis is a diagnostic test.

Oncology screenings check your body for cancer if you do not have any symptoms. Regular screening tests may find certain cancers early, providing the best chance for a cure. Your healthcare team should review cancer screening guidelines with you during your annual visit. For example, Septin-9 is for colorectal cancer screening. Together with your healthcare team, you can determine what's best for you based on your risk factors for cancer.

Genes are a part of every cell in the body. They carry information that allows the cell to survive and create new cells. NGS tests look at many genes that represent your cancer. They find a wide range of characteristics that may indicate a type of cancer. Unlike tests thatlook for a specific mutation, NGS testing gives your physician much more information about your cancer. This information can be used to determine the type of therapy that may be best for you, as one example.

A companion diagnostic test is just like it sounds—it’s a companion to a certain type of treatment. Certain cancer treatments target specific abnormalities, or mutations; to be eligible for that treatment, a specific test must be performed to determine if that mutation is present. That test is a companion diagnostic. If there is not a treatment already available, there may be one in the clinical research process or scientists may be working to find one. Either way, the test is a ‘companion’ to the treatment being considered and must be done before you receive treatment to make sure that the treatment is the best option for your type of cancer. There are also complementary diagnostics, which are recommended, but not required, for certain targeted treatments. Complementary diagnostics can identify if a patient is more or less likely to benefit from the associated treatment.

“Clinical trial” refers to the process of testing a new solution (medication, diagnostic test, activity, etc.) to make sure that it is safe and effective for broader and regular use. A new medication does not receive approval for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration until it goes through several stages of clinical trials. As a part of your treatment planning and before you agree to begin any new treatment, you should specifically ask your healthcare team if a clinical trial is an option for you. They should review with you the specifics about your type of cancer and your physical state (as determined by lab tests, for example) and share any clinical trials that would be available to you. Deciding to participate or not in a clinical trial is an important decision. For more information about clinical trials, you can visit the Cancer Support Community’s website at https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/clinical-trials, and to learn about what trials may be available for you, you can visit https://www.clinicaltrials.gov.