1. < Pancreatic Cancer

Signatera testing: Has anyone had this done?

Posted by teriabruzzo8 @teriabruzzo8, Mar 28, 2023

I have been given an option to take the Signatera residual disease test. I have heard mixed opinions that it is not a good source for pancreatic cancer specifically. Has anyone else been given this option and what their doctors have said about it.

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reidroberts | @reidroberts | May 2, 2023

Has anyone used Signatera blood testing to help find recurring cancer after a colon resection?

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8 replies
beths77 | @beths77 | May 3, 2023
In reply to @stageivsurvivor "I have been having my ctDNA measured since 2014 when I entered a clinical trial and..." + (show)
@stageivsurvivor

I have been having my ctDNA measured since 2014 when I entered a clinical trial and had the additional opportunity to provide samples for a study to monitor for minimal residual disease. The clinical trial was successful and I continue to have ctDNA measurements done on a quarterly basis. ctDNA has been around for some time having been introduced for monitoring minimal residual disease in lymphomas and leukemias. It is now moving in to solid tumor monitoring after technical hurdles were overcome and is being adopted by GI oncologists for monitoring colon cancer. It is being evaluated for pancreatic tumors and there is a working group at ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncologists) evaluating studies addressing false positive and negative results. It is a matter of time when ctDNA for pancreatic cancer surveillance will become accepted and a standard for more sensitive monitoring. In the meantime, I m pleased that I am able to take advantage of this additional surveillance technology that is significantly more sensitive than current imaging techniques.

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Thank you for your insight. Can you share what your clinical trial was for? What did you do that you think contributed to your long term PDAC survival?

Beth

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mynightmare2022 | @mynightmare2022 | May 6, 2023
In reply to @reidroberts "Has anyone used Signatera blood testing to help find recurring cancer after a colon resection?" + (show)
@reidroberts

Has anyone used Signatera blood testing to help find recurring cancer after a colon resection?

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Yes. My oncologist thought it was a good idea. I go in every other month for blood draws...so far all is good.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 12, 2023
In reply to @reidroberts "Has anyone used Signatera blood testing to help find recurring cancer after a colon resection?" + (show)
@reidroberts

Has anyone used Signatera blood testing to help find recurring cancer after a colon resection?

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@reidroberts, in addition to the reply from @mynightmare2022, you might appreciate this related discussion in the pancreatic cancer support group
- Signatera testing: Has anyone had this done? Signatera testing: Has anyone had this done?

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mynightmare2022 | @mynightmare2022 | May 13, 2023
In reply to @reidroberts "Has anyone used Signatera blood testing to help find recurring cancer after a colon resection?" + (show)
@reidroberts

Has anyone used Signatera blood testing to help find recurring cancer after a colon resection?

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Yes. I'm on my 6th blood draw now

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reidroberts | @reidroberts | May 15, 2023
In reply to @reidroberts "Has anyone used Signatera blood testing to help find recurring cancer after a colon resection?" + (show)
@reidroberts

Has anyone used Signatera blood testing to help find recurring cancer after a colon resection?

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I've been tested every 2 months. After chemo, radiation and surgery my first 2 tests were zero. The next 3 tests went from .04 to .06 then to 1.13. After scans last week a very small spot on my lung has shown up. So a cryoablation procedure is being scheduled now. Hopefully blood tests will go back to zero. We will see what happens. I'm glad these blood tests can detect cancer developing very early instead of dealing with a larger problem.

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 27, 2023
In reply to @reidroberts "I've been tested every 2 months. After chemo, radiation and surgery my first 2 tests were..." + (show)
@reidroberts

I've been tested every 2 months. After chemo, radiation and surgery my first 2 tests were zero. The next 3 tests went from .04 to .06 then to 1.13. After scans last week a very small spot on my lung has shown up. So a cryoablation procedure is being scheduled now. Hopefully blood tests will go back to zero. We will see what happens. I'm glad these blood tests can detect cancer developing very early instead of dealing with a larger problem.

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@reidroberts, did you have the cryoablation? How are you doing?

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1 reply
reidroberts | @reidroberts | May 30, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "@reidroberts, did you have the cryoablation? How are you doing?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

@reidroberts, did you have the cryoablation? How are you doing?

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My signatera blood test went up to a 5 and they did the cryoablation this last Monday. They froze off a spot that is so small they cannot even get a biopsy but assume it's cancerous. They could not find anything else but will scan again in about 3 weeks. Hopefully my blood tests will come back down from doing this procedure. If not we will take care of whatever shows up. I've done 2 of these cryoablation procedures in the past and they are not too bad. Much better than surgery. So far so good and keeping my fingers crossed. Signatera blood testing seems to do a good job detecting cancer very early instead of latter when it would be much harder to deal with.

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1 reply
pjebp | @pjebp | Jun 19, 2023
In reply to @reidroberts "Has anyone used Signatera blood testing to help find recurring cancer after a colon resection?" + (show)
@reidroberts

Has anyone used Signatera blood testing to help find recurring cancer after a colon resection?

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Yes, I use Signatera. It picked up a liver metastasis that I had ablated 2/21/22. I have some lung nodules which I'm actually having cryoablated tomorrow. My last Signatera on 4/18/23 was the first positive after eight negatives in a row. It was a very slight increase. But we believe it's coming from the lung nodules which have gotten larger.

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pjebp | @pjebp | Jun 19, 2023
In reply to @reidroberts "My signatera blood test went up to a 5 and they did the cryoablation this last..." + (show)
@reidroberts

My signatera blood test went up to a 5 and they did the cryoablation this last Monday. They froze off a spot that is so small they cannot even get a biopsy but assume it's cancerous. They could not find anything else but will scan again in about 3 weeks. Hopefully my blood tests will come back down from doing this procedure. If not we will take care of whatever shows up. I've done 2 of these cryoablation procedures in the past and they are not too bad. Much better than surgery. So far so good and keeping my fingers crossed. Signatera blood testing seems to do a good job detecting cancer very early instead of latter when it would be much harder to deal with.

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Who did your ablation?

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