Signatera test

Never heard of the Signatera test on my breast cancer journey.
Can you explain it more?
Thank you!

Hello Thora902:

Yes, I have had the Signatera test but no evidence of disease. I had one every 3 months after I finished neoadjuvant chemo, mastectomy and radiation. Each test was positive and the positive score increased at each test.

For the first 3 tests (over a 9 month period) I had no signs of returning cancer. My PET-CT (also every 3 months) , physical exams and other imaging (MRI) were negative.

Around the time of the 4th test I had new tumors. The tumors were in my other breast, a lump near my collarbone, lungs and retroperitoneum.

Note that I have invasive lobular carcinoma, triple negative. That cancer is notoriously difficult to image. In basic terms, that cancer develops via tiny strands or threads. The threads grow and spread but are invisible on imaging or by physical exam. Eventually the threads meet up and form a tumor. Only then is the tumor visible on imaging and on physical exam.

Let me know if you need more info.

The Signatera test is a blood test that checks for circulating tumor DNA from solid tumors. It tests for any molecular bits of tumor that break off from the original or other existing tumor that are floating around in your blood, looking or a new place to grow.

You might want to take a look at the Signatera website for the best info.

Thank you Olivia7850 for your reply. I wish you the best and you are on your way to healing.

Good morning: @olivia7850 is absolutely right. My docs & I have been following my Signaterna results for the last 2 years after a 2nd new cancer popped up. It is bloodwork that is specifically looking for evidence of pre-exisiting cancer. Collectively, we would say it is just another tool to monitor my situation. Yes it is going up. Now it is an 8. Been doubling every 3 or mos. No where can I find anything about what the doubling or the total number means. But my other tools confirm - blood tumor markers, CT/MRI and PET exams, & now can feel one of the lymph nodes.

So back to your orginal question - it is just a tool. A new form of monitoring. Docs (& you) want to see trends with each method. Like @olivia7850 & I are both experiencing, cancer is sneaky. Never rely on just one test, or just one method. And so good monitoring by both yourself and your docs will ensure that!

My onco is useing the test as a way to reduce the radiation from all the scans. I am now down to one PET a year and Signatera every 4 months. It is a tool as someone said. Expensive so not all insurance will cover it.