New method of curing cancer - new hope for sufferers

New cancer treatment methods that target a patient's genetic profile have been saving the lives of Australians and paving the way for ground- breaking new research.

Credit: Westend61/Getty Images/Westend61

Among new findings is the link between 12 different cancers inside the human genome that researchers hope will explain some of the key drivers of the disease.

Matthew Webster, a 34-year-old engineer from Newcastle, who has had his life changed due to targeted cancer treatments.

Mr Webster was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma at the age of 24.

These rare cancers make up one in five cancer deaths in Australia.

Matthew Webster and his partner are expecting their first child this month after his incredible recovery following precision oncology treatment (Supplied/Matthew Webster).

He went through surgery, chemotherapy and other conventional treatments before he learned of the field of personalised or precision medicine, which uses an understanding of a person's DNA and genome to tailor treatments.

Mr Webster initially travelled to Germany for the treatment which was not available in Australia, but he was then able to access treatment back home through Professor David Thomas who founded the not-for-profit genomics organisation Omico.

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