What is Genomics?

Your DNA is like an instruction manual for how your body works, it tells your body everything from what colour eyes you have, how tall you’ll be to how to repair itself, and how you respond to different drugs. Variations in your DNA makes you, you, an individual unlike anyone else.

The complete set of DNA instructions is called the genome and genomics is the study of it.

The NHS wants all TYA patients to be offered genomic testing, the reason for this is really diverse but it includes: scientists are trying to understand why some drugs don’t work on you; make more precise treatments; to spot individual mistakes (variants) in your genome that might have caused your cancer. To be able to do that, the scientists need to study your genome. We currently do not know what all variants mean, but as time goes by and discoveries are made, scientists could develop tests to help find a genomically specific diagnosis, or pinpoint exact treatments specifically targeting that part of your genome.

We’ve produced this guide so you can understand why you might be asked permission to look at your genome, and what it means. Libby has interviewed Pasquale and there is a simple animation to help you understand this complex topic. We want you to feel enabled to ask questions regarding your care. While the testing may or may not help you, by letting your doctor to look at your genome a particular treatment could be identified. Also, simply by allowing the researchers to look into your cancer genomics, breakthroughs could be made for the future and you could help someone else.