Evidence labels

How MatchMedi labels evidence.

The same treatment word can mean different things depending on source, country, mutation, prior treatment, and whether it is approved, investigational, or only a lived experience.

Diagram showing source types flowing into evidence labels and family-facing pages
The site labels what a source can support before it turns that information into a family-facing page.
Used in care guidelinesThis is a commonly recognized treatment category.
Approved in some placesWhere it is available depends on the country.
Clinical trialThis is being studied or tracked through trials.
Early signalInteresting, but not enough to treat as established.
Not enough evidenceWe cannot make a treatment claim from this yet.
Lived experience onlyPatient or caregiver story, not medical evidence.

How to read each label

Used in care guidelines
Means
A major, source-backed treatment category that commonly appears in melanoma care discussions.
Does not mean
It does not mean it fits every stage, mutation, country, or prior-treatment history.
Next check
Check stage, mutation, prior treatment, and source date.
Approved in some places
Means
A regulator or source supports availability in a specific country or setting.
Does not mean
It is not assumed available globally or covered by insurance everywhere.
Next check
Look for country status and access language.
Clinical trial
Means
A registry or trial source mentions the drug, mutation, cancer, or strategy.
Does not mean
A registry mention does not mean a person can join.
Next check
Use the trial record as a lead and contact the trial team.
Early signal
Means
There is a research signal worth tracking.
Does not mean
It is not established enough to present as a treatment option.
Next check
Keep it in research records until stronger sources exist.
Not enough evidence
Means
The site cannot support a patient-facing treatment claim yet.
Does not mean
It is not a judgment about one person's story.
Next check
Leave it unresolved or link only to source context.
Lived experience only
Means
A patient, parent, or caregiver is describing what happened to them.
Does not mean
It is not clinical evidence and cannot tell another family what to do.
Next check
Use it to prepare better questions, not decisions.

Known

Source-backed facts

Approval status, trial registry mentions, and drug class are only shown when a source supports them.

Unclear

Things we do not connect

Nearby drugs or similar trial concepts are not merged into proof for an exact combination.

Stories

For better questions

Stories can help families prepare questions, but they do not become medical evidence.

What the labels do not do

They do not tell you which option to choose. They tell you how to read the option before asking your oncology team better questions.