I, too, am interested in the Signaterra test for tracking any recurrence because I am one of the small % of people who absolutely cannot tolerate the A.I. drugs OR Tamoxifen (apparently). Therefore, my tumor, which is 95% estrogen positive and has an onco score of 29 is 36% likely to recur if I don't take adjuvant therapy drugs, and I really can't for the A.I. pills, for sure (crippled me for 6 months; very bad osteoarthritis and previously injured left knee joint. In the MOST study from 1997 to 2020). I have had 3 oncologists and none will order it, because there was no spread and the level of my tumor was 1A. I learned from talking to the company itself (twice) that you can pay for it yourself and it is affordable, whereas it is pricey if it is on insurance. Still, my best onco (Texas) is hesitant, so I have to have a CT Scan with contrast on Tuesday, because my LFT (Liver function Test) numbers are off the charts, whereas they were fine one year ago. My father had colon cancer which traveled to his liver and killed him within 6 months, so I am very nervous. I also have never had a CT scan wih contrast, which sounds not fun. I have the information from Signaterra about getting the test yourself, and what that would cost, if anyone wants me to copy it, but I think you still need a physician to authorize it and, so far, none of them will. I also wonder, "How long do they keep the tumor on ice to go in and examine those 14 strands?" I ask because mine was excised on 1/27/2022 and that is going on 2 years ago, so how many years do I have this option before the remaining tumor material is destroyed? 3? 5? Anybody know.
I have been having the Signatera test done every six weeks. I read that Medicare will cover it at Stage 2B or higher and my UHC Medicare Advantage plan covered it. There are different Medicare Advantage plans from UHC. My oncologist agreed to order it. I have an ultra high risk recurrence score per my MammaPrint/BluePrint results. They used my core biopsy to set up the test. I had my core biopsy on August 27, 2023 and they sent some of the stored biopsy on Oct 11, 2023 for analysis when I had my first chemo infusion and I also hadvmy first blood draw that day. The first result took about 5 weeks because they had to analyze my biopsy to get markers. I have blood draws scheduled every 6 weeks. So far my results have been negative which means there is no Molecular Residual Disease which matches my tumor. Now my results come back in about a week. Signatera sends me the specialized blood vials. Their customer service is great. I had to have one of my blood draws in another state because I was in the middle of receiving Proton therapy there. Signatera will send a phlebotomist to do the draw. They came to me and it was no problem and no charge.
Natera blood biopsies have been used extensively to monitor colon cancer but using them for breast cancer is a fairly new development. According to studies that I have seen, the ctDNA is predictive much sooner than radiologic imaging. That extra time might give you a window to adjust treatments if you have a positive test result.
I, too, am interested in the Signaterra test for tracking any recurrence because I am one of the small % of people who absolutely cannot tolerate the A.I. drugs OR Tamoxifen (apparently). Therefore, my tumor, which is 95% estrogen positive and has an onco score of 29 is 36% likely to recur if I don't take adjuvant therapy drugs, and I really can't for the A.I. pills, for sure (crippled me for 6 months; very bad osteoarthritis and previously injured left knee joint. In the MOST study from 1997 to 2020). I have had 3 oncologists and none will order it, because there was no spread and the level of my tumor was 1A. I learned from talking to the company itself (twice) that you can pay for it yourself and it is affordable, whereas it is pricey if it is on insurance. Still, my best onco (Texas) is hesitant, so I have to have a CT Scan with contrast on Tuesday, because my LFT (Liver function Test) numbers are off the charts, whereas they were fine one year ago. My father had colon cancer which traveled to his liver and killed him within 6 months, so I am very nervous. I also have never had a CT scan wih contrast, which sounds not fun. I have the information from Signaterra about getting the test yourself, and what that would cost, if anyone wants me to copy it, but I think you still need a physician to authorize it and, so far, none of them will. I also wonder, "How long do they keep the tumor on ice to go in and examine those 14 strands?" I ask because mine was excised on 1/27/2022 and that is going on 2 years ago, so how many years do I have this option before the remaining tumor material is destroyed? 3? 5? Anybody know.
I still don't understand the purpose of the test. I understand it will tell if any cancer cells are running around, but if we don't know where, what is the difference? It would seem to be very upsetting to wait for the cancer to become more apparent. We could have just waited.
As a caregiver I listen to what the oncologist explain about the test and its significance. What I understand is that the split DNA cancer cells in the blood stream may lodge in any other organs and tumor develop at anther site. Then it would a total different way to deal with the new tumor. Surgery, chemo and radiation etc. So it is better to keep this Signatera result at 0.00 with the maintenance treatment. I hope this gives you some clarification.
My husband is getting help with signatera tests after his colon cancer surgery. After 12 chemo (twice a month) the signatera 6 results showed 0.00. But 7, 8 and 9th result showed upward graph with slow increase in number of split DNA Cancer cells in the blood stream so no again he is given that chemo treatment twice a month. The current result showed decrease in number which confirms the chemo treatment is working to keep the split DNA cancer cells in control. My worry is that at what time this chemo will be stopped? Because constant bombarding one's body with chemo drugs will leave the patient weaker and weaker along the way. I hope I can find an answer to that. Wishing full recovery and no further treatment needed for my husband. With what we have been gone through Signatera test is useful.
what range if cost is it? so is it important to get a level before surgery even before staging has been determined? Surgery in 3 wks for hepatic flexure lesion.
what range if cost is it? so is it important to get a level before surgery even before staging has been determined? Surgery in 3 wks for hepatic flexure lesion.
My understanding is that you need a sample of the original biopsy. then all Signatera tests are compared with it. I’ve heard that Medicare covers it but it’s free if the patient doesn’t have Medicare. In Europe the test is 4000 euros each time. It seems to be a test that has to be done regularly for a long time. I haven’t had a test yet because I’m told an oncologist has to order it. I live in Texas but get my treatment in Europe. I don’t have an oncologist in Texas. I contacted an oncology office but was rejected because I’m not a patient. All I’m asking for is a prescription for a non invasive test.
I am from the Philippines. I just read about Signatera from our breast cancer survivors chat group. I sent an email to my oncologist to inquire if I need it and if it is available in my country. Waiting for her reply. If it is available I have a strong feeling I may not be able to afford it. Insurance companies here do not cover new molecular cancer tests like Signatera. As it is taking Ribociclib with Letrozole for 6 months have already created a dent in our savings. This is the reality of living in a developing country with a poor healthcare system.
I just had my 1st test in October and it IS WORTH IT. They request a tissue sample from the hospital and they keep it on file to compare every 4 months to be sure if there is any cell movement.
My Dr. in Texas at MD Anderson (I live in Florida) uses it to monitor. It supposedly can see up to a year in advance any metastasizing .
I also agree its worth it if you're someone who would want to know in advance if there could be mets. Many oncos refuse to order it b/c they claim that even if its positive they wouldn't necessarily change the treatment course until a scan showed something. However I think its better to know in advance, at least it gives you time to start researching additional treatment options and/or find an onco that may be willing to change things up. If your doc won't order, you can go online to Pink Lotus through Dr Kristi Funk and order through her website. They charge $150 processing fee just one time to do it through their site. You'll need to check directly with Natera yourself but last I heard they said they will not charge patients for any costs that the insurance doesn't cover. According to Dr Funk, if you can get all negative results for the first 2 years after diagnosis, your chance of having a recurrence is reduced by 90%!
Hi I am in UK.. this is my (limited) understanding: The Natera test is a tissue test from original lump. They then match the mutations in the lump to any found in the blood. The Guardant test is a blood test to look for circulating ctDNA in the blood which is cross matched somehow to their database of all known mutations per se. In UK the Guardant test costs about £1500. They basically aim to do the same thing i think. There are other companies as well doing both of these things.
There is a sort of sequence: most people pre operation have bits of mutated DNA being shed from the tumour. The operations massively lower the bits floating around and the aim is that Chemo and / or endocrine then get rid of the rest or send it back to being dormant. If you have residual disease immediately after treatment then that is kind of a bad prognostic sign and you will need more treatment or it will recur. The aim of the docs is to get to no residual disease but not always possible. I think they are the 30% or so who relapse. So if there is residual disease, the holy grail is to see if one can take a drug to stop it going metastatic. These trials are not complete and most have not even started. Maybe a while off. They are further on with respect to Colon and Lung cancers. So the oncologists fall into 2 camps: those who dont want their patients distressed that on a positive test they might not know what to then do vs. those wanting to try (anything) on their patient as a piece of research which may help hundreds more women down the line so may be willing to try something to stop it going metastatic. For those who already are metastatic then the tests enable them to see if the current treatment is working or not and / or if they should change (in some cases only where there is an alternate drug) as the patient is becoming resistant to the one they are on. Mostly, i think we are about 5 years+ off having treatments for all the positives so its super stressful to be positive if they cant change anything: in this case, i find it helpful to think that even trying something as a research study of even 1 person, may help thousands in 5 years time. But that is the reason some oncologists don't want to do the tests, especially if they already know there is no specific drug for the mutation they are likely to find in a specific patient as it will simply massively raise anxiety needlessly. Best to ask this question: the ones who may be keener on the tests may be the ones who know they would change something if it was positive. This depends on the mutations / original risk / recurrence score etc etc.
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I have been having the Signatera test done every six weeks. I read that Medicare will cover it at Stage 2B or higher and my UHC Medicare Advantage plan covered it. There are different Medicare Advantage plans from UHC. My oncologist agreed to order it. I have an ultra high risk recurrence score per my MammaPrint/BluePrint results. They used my core biopsy to set up the test. I had my core biopsy on August 27, 2023 and they sent some of the stored biopsy on Oct 11, 2023 for analysis when I had my first chemo infusion and I also hadvmy first blood draw that day. The first result took about 5 weeks because they had to analyze my biopsy to get markers. I have blood draws scheduled every 6 weeks. So far my results have been negative which means there is no Molecular Residual Disease which matches my tumor. Now my results come back in about a week. Signatera sends me the specialized blood vials. Their customer service is great. I had to have one of my blood draws in another state because I was in the middle of receiving Proton therapy there. Signatera will send a phlebotomist to do the draw. They came to me and it was no problem and no charge.
Natera blood biopsies have been used extensively to monitor colon cancer but using them for breast cancer is a fairly new development. According to studies that I have seen, the ctDNA is predictive much sooner than radiologic imaging. That extra time might give you a window to adjust treatments if you have a positive test result.
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2 ReactionsCheck with Natera about timing on tumor tissue analysis and physician scripting. They may have resources.
I think tissue banking for years is fairly standard. I’m sure there must be some limit. Check with the lab ( hospital) that stores your tissue.
As a caregiver I listen to what the oncologist explain about the test and its significance. What I understand is that the split DNA cancer cells in the blood stream may lodge in any other organs and tumor develop at anther site. Then it would a total different way to deal with the new tumor. Surgery, chemo and radiation etc. So it is better to keep this Signatera result at 0.00 with the maintenance treatment. I hope this gives you some clarification.
My husband is getting help with signatera tests after his colon cancer surgery. After 12 chemo (twice a month) the signatera 6 results showed 0.00. But 7, 8 and 9th result showed upward graph with slow increase in number of split DNA Cancer cells in the blood stream so no again he is given that chemo treatment twice a month. The current result showed decrease in number which confirms the chemo treatment is working to keep the split DNA cancer cells in control. My worry is that at what time this chemo will be stopped? Because constant bombarding one's body with chemo drugs will leave the patient weaker and weaker along the way. I hope I can find an answer to that. Wishing full recovery and no further treatment needed for my husband. With what we have been gone through Signatera test is useful.
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Helpful -
Hug
5 Reactionswhat range if cost is it? so is it important to get a level before surgery even before staging has been determined? Surgery in 3 wks for hepatic flexure lesion.
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Hug
3 ReactionsMy understanding is that you need a sample of the original biopsy. then all Signatera tests are compared with it. I’ve heard that Medicare covers it but it’s free if the patient doesn’t have Medicare. In Europe the test is 4000 euros each time. It seems to be a test that has to be done regularly for a long time. I haven’t had a test yet because I’m told an oncologist has to order it. I live in Texas but get my treatment in Europe. I don’t have an oncologist in Texas. I contacted an oncology office but was rejected because I’m not a patient. All I’m asking for is a prescription for a non invasive test.
I am from the Philippines. I just read about Signatera from our breast cancer survivors chat group. I sent an email to my oncologist to inquire if I need it and if it is available in my country. Waiting for her reply. If it is available I have a strong feeling I may not be able to afford it. Insurance companies here do not cover new molecular cancer tests like Signatera. As it is taking Ribociclib with Letrozole for 6 months have already created a dent in our savings. This is the reality of living in a developing country with a poor healthcare system.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI just had my 1st test in October and it IS WORTH IT. They request a tissue sample from the hospital and they keep it on file to compare every 4 months to be sure if there is any cell movement.
My Dr. in Texas at MD Anderson (I live in Florida) uses it to monitor. It supposedly can see up to a year in advance any metastasizing .
I also agree its worth it if you're someone who would want to know in advance if there could be mets. Many oncos refuse to order it b/c they claim that even if its positive they wouldn't necessarily change the treatment course until a scan showed something. However I think its better to know in advance, at least it gives you time to start researching additional treatment options and/or find an onco that may be willing to change things up. If your doc won't order, you can go online to Pink Lotus through Dr Kristi Funk and order through her website. They charge $150 processing fee just one time to do it through their site. You'll need to check directly with Natera yourself but last I heard they said they will not charge patients for any costs that the insurance doesn't cover. According to Dr Funk, if you can get all negative results for the first 2 years after diagnosis, your chance of having a recurrence is reduced by 90%!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi I am in UK.. this is my (limited) understanding: The Natera test is a tissue test from original lump. They then match the mutations in the lump to any found in the blood. The Guardant test is a blood test to look for circulating ctDNA in the blood which is cross matched somehow to their database of all known mutations per se. In UK the Guardant test costs about £1500. They basically aim to do the same thing i think. There are other companies as well doing both of these things.
There is a sort of sequence: most people pre operation have bits of mutated DNA being shed from the tumour. The operations massively lower the bits floating around and the aim is that Chemo and / or endocrine then get rid of the rest or send it back to being dormant. If you have residual disease immediately after treatment then that is kind of a bad prognostic sign and you will need more treatment or it will recur. The aim of the docs is to get to no residual disease but not always possible. I think they are the 30% or so who relapse. So if there is residual disease, the holy grail is to see if one can take a drug to stop it going metastatic. These trials are not complete and most have not even started. Maybe a while off. They are further on with respect to Colon and Lung cancers. So the oncologists fall into 2 camps: those who dont want their patients distressed that on a positive test they might not know what to then do vs. those wanting to try (anything) on their patient as a piece of research which may help hundreds more women down the line so may be willing to try something to stop it going metastatic. For those who already are metastatic then the tests enable them to see if the current treatment is working or not and / or if they should change (in some cases only where there is an alternate drug) as the patient is becoming resistant to the one they are on. Mostly, i think we are about 5 years+ off having treatments for all the positives so its super stressful to be positive if they cant change anything: in this case, i find it helpful to think that even trying something as a research study of even 1 person, may help thousands in 5 years time. But that is the reason some oncologists don't want to do the tests, especially if they already know there is no specific drug for the mutation they are likely to find in a specific patient as it will simply massively raise anxiety needlessly. Best to ask this question: the ones who may be keener on the tests may be the ones who know they would change something if it was positive. This depends on the mutations / original risk / recurrence score etc etc.
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Helpful -
Hug
5 Reactions