Thanks so much for responding. I did have the PET last week and saw the results same day. There is a new spot on my right side pubic bone about 1.7cm in size that lit up from the test. The good news is that none of my other metastasis spots seem to be active. The tech recommended a pelvic MRI to get some further detail.

I discussed the findings with my oncologist a couple days later and he said he was actually quite relieved by the report because he thought it might be much worse due to the number spike. He feels that for right now, we should stay the course with the same chemo meds and keep a steady eye on how things progress. He also told me that the Signatera is relatively new and that he's had about 100 patients doing it and he's come across several incidences where numbers have climbed or spiked, only to go back down again.

While I do trust him and feel he is paying attention, and more importantly, taking action, I still feel like I should be doing something more (or something else) to address the fact that a new tumor has popped up. I speak to the doctor once every three weeks, the day before infusion, and I would like to ask some new questions that have surfaced in the days since we spoke.

My old oncologist had also prescribed the current chemo program I am on, but he said it would be for a finite amount of time. My new oncologist said I would likely be on for the rest of my life. Also, my new oncologist was a bit aghast that I had been off of chemo for 2 months (at that point) and asked why. I had no answer other than that's what my oncologist felt was okay. I wound up being off chemo for 3 months (as I believe I mentioned earlier), so I'm wondering now if perhaps this new tumor formed during that time. Because if not, than I'm worried about continuing on a chemo regimen that isn't necessarily keeping new cancer from happening.

That's what's really messing with my head right now- am I doing everything I can to keep the cancer at bay, or am I sitting back and relaxing too much? I thought I was doing everything I was supposed to after my first bout of cancer in 2016. I went for my scans, I did my blood work, never missed an appointment, even changed oncologists when I felt my first one was not serving my needs. (I'm now on oncologist #3.) And still, my cancer came back, but it returned so largely that it made no sense for someone who was being diligent. So clearly I missed something or should have been doing more. And I don't want to repeat that mistake. So sticking to the "plan" if the plan isn't cutting it is making me very uneasy.

I'm not sure what to make of the Signatera numbers going up and down for patients. I am going to ask that they start doing regular CEA tests so I can compare those numbers to my Signatera numbers. My last CEA test was in July and my number was 0.4 (when my Signatera number was 58). I don't know if my CEA climbed commensurate with the Signatera climb since no further CEA tests were done.

All that being said, I think I am down off the ceiling in terms of panic and thinking I'll be dead in less than a year, which is really important, of course. I can't function if I'm walking around in a panic all day. But yes, I would love to hear from anyone else who has any Signatera number oddities and how they played out. Thank you.