Signatera Test. Is it truly helpful and worthwhile?

@sosophia245

Agree.

@peggydobbs it's definately confusing, all the different tests! I would only say, the most important thing is to find a qualified oncologist that you truly trust. It's fine to get opinions here, but we're not medical professionals. Some doctors refuse to order either the Signatera or the Oncotype test due to the fact that neither is 100% reliable.

I have been taking the Signatera test for a number of years. It is but one test or tool in the toolbox that doctors and me use to assess either one of my 2 Stage 4 cancers. A single test and a single blood tumor test neither my doctors nor me rely on, get upset about, etc. We look for trends, rate of increase, and other confirming indicators.
Specifically, I did it for a removed ovarian brain tumor that was sent to Signatera in Feb 2024. I registered 0.47 - so not negative. But low. We watched it climb slowly to 7.88, and combined with my other tools of assessment, put a plan of action in place. But then it dropped to 7.0. Not doing anything special but retested and yes jumped to 10.51 in Dec 2025. Combined with PET, tumor markers, etc pivoted to weekly chemo in early Dec. My early March 2026 test showed my number dropping to 0.19. Now just a few more chemo treatments, PET looks better, CA125 way down. So my various tools once again confirmed each other. I meet with my oncology team next week but I suspect he won’t expect me to get to 0. Chemo will stop, we will keep me on some maintenance drugs, and I get to go back to monitoring and living my life. I understand my small “c” cancers are chronic conditions so tools for monitoring are very important to me, and their trends over time become equally important. Good luck!!

@einnoc
My oncologist at Root Causes in San Antonio told me that tumor samples are required to be kept for 10 years. I have had two CT Scans with contrast. Here in TX, the contrast is done via IV. They need to know if you have had a previous reaction to having contrast or if you have kidney disease. The only issue is you get a warm feeling that feels like you are wetting your pants, but in reality, you are not. It is just a feeling of it and it only lasts a minute, if that long. I have had no issue with the CT Scan with contrast.

I also had the Signatera test ordered by Root Causes. Took forever. The dr sent order in on May 28, 2026. Natera received the sample July 29, 2026. I got results on August 14, 2026. As far as I know, Medicare is paying for the test. My traditional oncologist with UT Health System has ordered a CARIS test, which I believe is similar to the Signatera test. I am anxious to get the results of the CARIS test, but it was ordered about the same time as the Signatera and still no results. My Signatera came back negative. I have uterine cancer Stage III2a and told it is a very rare, aggressive cancer. The CT Scan show some nodules in various locations, but they are too small to biopsy and it is not know if they are cancer or just nodules. I am doing chemo (Taxol and Carboplatin) and immunotherapy (Herceptin) since my tests showed my cancer was HER2+. I am also doing alternative treatment with Root Causes in San Antonio. My traditional oncologist told me before 1st chemo treatment that the don't see cancer in me, as it appears it was all removed through total hysterectomy on May 4. The chemo is just to get any microscopic cancer cells that may be floating around. I don't and didn't want to do chemo. If CARIS comes back negative, I probably will stop chemo, but continue the Herceptin immunotherapy. Prayers for all of you going through cancer treatment.

I had a Gardant Reveal which is similar to signatera. It took a month to get it back, and since i had a bone marrow transplant with a donor who was male. The Guardant people had been confused to my XY chromosomes as i checked female. Once my DRs office notified me they replied to them i had a transplant. My test came back negative. I also will need another one in 3-6 months. I only wanted it as my sister passed away May 31st and never wanted to take these tests. I told her i take most if not all i am offered.

I say take the tests....they are just a tool to help keep us alive. I have metastatic breast cancer, NED for 3 years, and take the Signatera test every three months. Best of luck to you on your journey.

I have stage 1a triple negative. I have requested this Natera test from my new oncologist. After some serious disagreement and discussion he finally agreed it was probably the only tool we have to follow me. My kidney fxn is suboptimal and i have MGUS. Both these make it difficult if not impossible to safely have chemo.

@hsminc It's a good diagnostic aide. Because it can find cancer recurrence months before physical scans, and it offers a non-invasive way to monitor treatment response over time.

@beenthere2x i totally agree. If this new oncologist had not agreed to do it, I would have looked for anothet. Because my tumor is small 6.4mm, grade 2 with no LVI and huge surgical margins, the “powers that be” do not consider it worth monitoring - or they believe the “science” is not there yet. But it is my body and I want this test!