WHEN SHOULD PATIENTS
DO NGS TESTING?
Testing at the right time means results exist when they can change decisions. Testing reactively -- after standard treatment has already started -- means they may confirm what went wrong rather than prevent it.
When NGS Timing Matters Most
- 1
At Metastatic Solid Tumour Diagnosis
The clearest indication. For any patient diagnosed with advanced or metastatic solid cancer in a type where targeted therapies exist, comprehensive NGS should be ordered immediately. Before chemotherapy starts. Not alongside it. Before.
- 2
Before First-Line Treatment Decisions
A 2-3 week wait for NGS results is appropriate for most medically stable patients. For unstable patients who need treatment urgently: start empirical therapy and pivot immediately when results arrive.
- 3
At Progression
Cancer evolves under treatment pressure. The molecular profile at progression differs from the profile at diagnosis in a meaningful proportion of patients on targeted therapy. Acquired resistance mutations appear. Repeat testing identifies both.
- 4
Early-Stage to Metastatic Transition
If comprehensive profiling was not done at early-stage diagnosis, the transition to metastatic disease is the time to do it. Different clinical questions, different testing requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How CancerFax Helps
CancerFax is a specialist cancer access and patient-navigation platform. We help patients and families understand their options, organise medical records, coordinate hospital communication, and support cross-border treatment planning where appropriate.
We help collect and organise reports, scans, pathology, biomarker results, and treatment history for structured case review.
We communicate with hospitals or trial teams to assess whether a case may be suitable for further screening.
We support appointment coordination, document submission, translation, and direct communication with international departments.
For international patients, we help with practical coordination — travel planning, hospital admission guidance, and local support.
If this option is not suitable, we help explore other relevant treatments, clinical trials, or advanced care pathways.
From inquiry through to follow-up, our coordinators provide a single point of contact for the family.
CancerFax does not guarantee treatment access, eligibility, or clinical outcome. Our role is to help patients access accurate information, structured review, and appropriate specialist pathways.
Questions About When NGS Testing Is Appropriate for Your Situation?
CancerFax helps patients understand the right timing for genomic profiling and connects them with oncologists who can initiate comprehensive testing before critical treatment decisions.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified oncologist before making treatment decisions.