When Deborah James was diagnosed with cancer, the odds were against her. Just 8% of patients with terminal Stage 4 bowel cancer live for five years.

James made it to five years. In that time she quit her job as a deputy headteacher, started a blog, newspaper column and podcastAn audio programme that you can download and listen to. about life with cancer, raised £6.8m for cancer research and was made a dame by Prince William. 

Yesterday, tributes poured in after her death was announced.

Even the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, paid tribute: "The research her campaign has funded will be her enduring legacy. Because of her, many many lives will be saved." 

Key to this legacy could be one area in particular - personalised medicine. Experts call it "one of the most fundamental breakthroughs in cancer medicine" in recent decades.

In the past, cancer was often treated with a "one-size-fits-all" approach. People with bowel cancer or breast cancer were given the same doses of the same medicines. The treatments available, including chemotherapyA treatment for cancer that uses powerful drugs to kill cells., often have terrible side effects. 

Today, scientists can map the genetics of individual tumours. One person's tumour may be very different to another's. 

Researchers think the answer is a more precise approach to medicine. Scientists can choose medicines, such as immunotherapyImmunotherapy works by enhancing the ability of the body's immune system to spot and destroy cancer cells.  drugs, that match individual tumours. 

Professor Richard Wilson is an expert in cancer medicine at Glasgow University. He hopes one day, everyone will be able to have their genes mapped to show what their cancer risk might be. They could then receive targeted drugs or even vaccines to prevent illness.

It is not just cancer treatment that could be personalised. The research is being applied to mental health conditions and other bowel diseases. 

Even experts admit implementing widespread personalised medicine may not be simple. 

One major concern is patient privacyBeing able to keep details about your life to yourself without everyone else knowing. . The UK BiobankA non-profit study investigating how someone's genetics and surroundings contribute to the development of disease. It began in 2006. holds biological samples from half a million people. The data inside could revolutionise medicine. But patients must sign up without knowing how researchers could use their genes.

Others wonder about the wisdom of informing people they have a high likelihood of developing a life-altering disease while they are still well.

But many are sure: if James's hopes for the future of personalised medicine are realised, millions could be saved. 

Yes: One day, we will consider today's treatments for many common diseases inhumane. Personalised medicine will revolutionise the treatment of cancer and many other serious illnesses.

No: The research is exciting, but sceptics have clear concerns. Medicine based on DNA could infringe on people's privacy. And the expense means that only the richest will be able to afford the results.

Or... For now, the jury is still out. Genetic testing will likely transform how we treat some illnesses, but we cannot yet know what its limits will be. Traditional treatments will still be vital.