Local pathologists are using a method called Biomarker Testing to detect cancer and find the best treatment. 

Using a patient's blood or tissue sample, medical professionals look for genes or proteins in a pattern or mark that can lead doctors to a diagnosis and a personalized treatment.

“It is his cancer, his bio markers that makes the determination of his prognosis as well as therapy,” Dr. Manju Nath the Medical Directory of the Laboratory at Insight Hospital and Medical Center Trumbull that offers the testing said.

“Matching patients with the right treatment, at the right time, this definitely improves people's chances of survival and it also increases their quality of life as they’re undergoing treatment,” Donna Greco, the Pennsylvania Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society said. 

The lab procedure is not a pre-screening test and has to be ordered by a doctor for people already showing symptoms of cancer. It's been most commonly used for patients with breast, lung, colon cancer and melanoma.

Biomarker Testing can also help doctors predict if the cancer will spread to other parts of the patient's body or if family members should be screened for the same cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, “Biomarker testing is different from genetic testing that is used to find out if someone has inherited mutations that make them more likely to get cancer. Inherited mutations are those you are born with. They are passed on to you by your parents.”

The type of test has been used for years but some patients couldn’t take advantage of it because it's expensive.

“If we don't offer this testing, which are available to the patient, I feel like we are not treating the patient at the best option,” Dr. Nath said.

Starting this year, a law was passed in Pennsylvania that fully covers the cost for the tests under insurance including Medicaid.

“We’re very hopeful that we'll see more patients having better health outcomes as a result of this new law,” Greco said. “It's evidence based, it's driven by science.”

A bill that would make the testing covered by insurance in Ohio was passed by lawmakers in the House of Representatives. The state Senate is still considering the bill.