RGCC testing known as the greek test

Posted by jduckett @jduckett, Feb 29 11:11am

Has anyone used RGCC testing also known as "The greek test"?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer Support Group.

RGCC was developed by a Swiss company. It doesn't appear to yet be approved by the US Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and The College of American Pathologists (CAP). US labs that provide medical grade testing are CLIA certified and CAP accredited. This ensures test results meet and exceed industry standards for clinical laboratory testing.

RGCC looks promising and is similar to the Galleri test. The Galleri test is a blood test, offering a new way to screen for cancers. Many cancers can start to grow but show no symptoms until later stages. With Galleri pathologists are able to look for a signal shared (tumor DNA in a person’s circulation) for more than 50 types of cancer. If a cancer signal is found, the results predict where in the body the cancer may be located to help your provider guide your next steps. Galleri should be done in addition to, not in place of, any annual cancer screenings recommended by your healthcare provider. This test does not detect all cancers and is not meant to replace genetic testing for those at increased risk of hereditary cancers.

More information can be found at https://www.galleri.com/

Patients interested in this Galleri test can talk to their primary care provider. This test is available at Mayo Clinic.

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Colleen.....I am a 13 year Mayo Clinic patient. I have had cancer 3 times. Twice treated at Mayo. Once elsewhere.
All clear now.

My Primary Care physician at Mayo in Scottsdale says she can't prescribe the Galleri test. They say call Executive Health. EH says I can't be accepted anymore....even though I have had 2 EH physicals in the past 5 years! Because I'm retired now!

I'm due to see Dr. Pollack in Rochester for fu this summer.... but they say they can prescribe.....because they are Nuerology.

Who can I talk to to get the Galleri test?

Jeff

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sorry Dr. Pollack can't prescribe (typo)

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@jeff0117

Colleen.....I am a 13 year Mayo Clinic patient. I have had cancer 3 times. Twice treated at Mayo. Once elsewhere.
All clear now.

My Primary Care physician at Mayo in Scottsdale says she can't prescribe the Galleri test. They say call Executive Health. EH says I can't be accepted anymore....even though I have had 2 EH physicals in the past 5 years! Because I'm retired now!

I'm due to see Dr. Pollack in Rochester for fu this summer.... but they say they can prescribe.....because they are Nuerology.

Who can I talk to to get the Galleri test?

Jeff

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@jeff0117, that sounds frustrating. If you haven't already, you might submit a request through the appointment office at Mayo Clinic in Rochester here http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

You might also be interested in this related discussion:
- Early cancer detection Galleri test: Anybody using it?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/galleri-test/

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@jeff0117

Colleen.....I am a 13 year Mayo Clinic patient. I have had cancer 3 times. Twice treated at Mayo. Once elsewhere.
All clear now.

My Primary Care physician at Mayo in Scottsdale says she can't prescribe the Galleri test. They say call Executive Health. EH says I can't be accepted anymore....even though I have had 2 EH physicals in the past 5 years! Because I'm retired now!

I'm due to see Dr. Pollack in Rochester for fu this summer.... but they say they can prescribe.....because they are Nuerology.

Who can I talk to to get the Galleri test?

Jeff

Jump to this post

Hi Jeff, according to the galleri.com website, there are two ways to request the Galleri test for cancer. The Galleri test is available by prescription only and must be ordered by a healthcare provider. You can request the test through your healthcare provider or online through an independent telemedicine provider

https://www.galleri.com/patient/the-galleri-test#:~:text=The%20Galleri%20test%20is%20available%20by%20prescription%20only,provider%20or%20online%20through%20an%20independent%20telemedicine%20provider

I noticed there are links on their website to request the test online. If your PCP isn’t able to order this test for you, perhaps you may be able to do this yourself. Have you looked at the Galleri site to try ordering?

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Lori.......Yes I have talked to Galleri (Grail)....may have to go that route. Frustrating.

Especially when Mayo invited myself and many others to the below following Webinar with Dr. Steven Ressler from Mayo and is endorsing the test! All it is is a blood draw.... and he states they've done over 3,000 of them at Mayo in Rochester and 1,000 in Arizona.

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@jeff0117

Lori.......Yes I have talked to Galleri (Grail)....may have to go that route. Frustrating.

Especially when Mayo invited myself and many others to the below following Webinar with Dr. Steven Ressler from Mayo and is endorsing the test! All it is is a blood draw.... and he states they've done over 3,000 of them at Mayo in Rochester and 1,000 in Arizona.

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@jeff0117, this appears to be a game of broken telephone - but not a fun game. It is possible that your access to Executive Health is determined by your employer. That may be something to ask about to get to the bottom of your access status.

If I were in your position, I would contact Exective Health to understand more. As a Mayo Clinic patient in Arizona, would it be possible to request an appointment with Dr. Ressler? I would also want to be clear about the effectiveness of the test in people who have had multiple cancer diagnoses. I didn't listen to the whole webinar with Dr. Ressler (thanks for posting it). Was this addressed in the webinar?

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Collen:

I retired in 2019. I had an Exec Health exam in 2020.....however Mayo Exec Health now says they DO NOT accept ANY retirees. Even though they are a past EH patient..... and willing to pay out of pocket! Also I have BCBS as secondary insurance to Medicare.

I am 11 years out on Prosate Cancer. 0.0 on PSA for 11 years. I am 4 1/2 years out on leg Melanoma (no spread to lymph nodes). 2 1/2 years out on a full PET Scan which showed no cancer......except a 1 cm Thyroid Cancer nodule..

This was treated with RFA (Radio Frequency Ablation) instead of removing the thyroid 2.3 years ago.
After ultrasounds every 3 months for 2 years.....that cancer is gone....per ultrasound.

I have had Primary Care physicals, other blood tests etc, eye exams etc with Mayo Clinic. Dr.'s.

I am going to go through one of my other Dr.'s at Mayo....and see if I can get a referral to an Internist like
Dr. Hurt or Dr. Dugan in Rochester....(who Ressler sights during his webinar).

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The Functional Medicine doctor I see occasionally offers the RGCC Oncotrace test to assess for circulating tumor cells and cancer biomarkers.

I decided to pay for the test both before and after my Stage 1a lung cancer surgery ( clean margins and negative lymph nodes). The RGCC test showed a positive level of 2.4 prior to surgery and 2.1 six weeks after surgery. I contacted RGCC and I was told that cancer that is in remission should have a value of less than 1.4.

The pathology report on the lung cancer tumor showed adenocarcinoma. I was denied follow up with Oncology because I was told I didn't meet criteria.

The tumor that was removed during surgery was not tested for genetic or cancer biomarkers. I am trying to figure out what to do next.

What is standard of care for Oncology follow up after surgical removal of a tumor with clean margins and negative lymph nodes? I am concerned I still have cancer tumor cells in my blood. I would like to know my treatment options.

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