We all know that the standard of care is simply not enough and if the cancer is not contained early on and actively managed, then it will most likely recur and progress. 

Below are a few examples by www.storemytumor.com of personalized strategies that lead to better treatment results and longer time in remission: 

FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED PATIENT: 

1) Chemo sensitivity testing: Chemo-sensitivity testing determines the most effective drug or combination for the patient. It is not routinely done however because it requires viable tumor tissue and because it is an out of pocket expense. Pursuing this test upfront will set the patient up on the right treatment course from day one and avoid unnecessary toxicity with no benefit. 

2) Personalized cancer vaccine: A type of immunotherapy that awakens the patient's own immune system actively fight the cancer, helping to reduce chances of recurrence. In a perfect world, every patient should get vaccinated, but we are not there yet. This treatment is not routinely done because it requires viable tumor tissue, and because it requires a complex infrastructure to prepare and administer. It also has little or no side effects (good quality of life). Pursuing a personalize vaccine is a proactive way of fighting cancer, can extend time in remission, and reduce chances of recurrence. 

FOR RECURRENCE OR ADVANCED PATIENT: 

3) Genetic sequencing: identifies unique mutations on your tumor, and matches those to drugs designed to target mutations expressed on the tumor, thus narrowing down a list of about a 100+ targeted drugs to about 10. This test is often ordered in the USA and requires paraffin (dead) tumor tissue. Pursuing this test upfront will identify targeted drugs your oncologist can use to treat your cancer. 

4) Drug screening test: this test screens for the widest range of chemotherapeutic agents, targeted drugs and experimental drugs. This test is not routinely done because it requires viable tumor tissue and because it is an out of pocket expense. Pursuing this test upfront will help you identify a chemo, a targeted drug, or an experimental drug from a wider range of options, and confirm that the drug works. 

5) Personalized T-cells Therapy: A form of Immunotherapy that recruits more soldiers to the battle, by multiplying the part of the immune system that already recognizes the cancer. This treatment is not routinely done because it requires viable tumor tissue, and because it requires a complex infrastructure to prepare and administer. Pursuing T-cell therapy boosts the immune system to fight cancer in parallel to other treatments you are on and reduce chances of recurrence. 

BOTTOM LINE: Personalized treatments start with having access to the viable tumor, BUT tumors are NOT preserved alive by the hospitals and are routinely discarded.