Signatera Test. Is it truly helpful and worthwhile?

@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!

@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.

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.

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 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 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!!

@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.

@sosophia245

Agree.

I would say Signatera test is a valuable tool. I was diagnosed with stage 2c high grade serous endometrial cancer with abnormal p53 in April 2025. Following surgery, I started chemo which I could not tolerate due to it causing severe neuropathy, heart issues, and high blood pressure. My oncologist hematologist recommended the test. I just had a low positive result after 2 negative test results and am scheduled for a PET scan.
I feel the tests are extremely important and can help guide treatment choices for patients like me that cannot tolerate chemo. They also can help determine if treatment is working. There are some oncologists that are not on board with the tumor-specific testing yet. They seem to be more concerned that there is not enough research behind it. However, there is new evidence coming out that validates the accuracy and value of this type of testing as it tailors treatment to the patient. Unfortunately, Cancer treatment “cookie-cutter” approaches (6 rounds of chemo, etc) for every patient needs to be revisited. Each one of us is different and our treatment plan should be focused on what works for each patient. My opinion, of course.

YES! A LOT OF A LITTLE INFO ADDS TO PEACE OF MIND. 8/2022 STAGE 2 BREAST AND A WORLD WIND OF TREATMENTS, SURGERY, AND LIVING THE "HAPPY NEW ME AND LEARNING TO ADDRESS SIDE EFFECTS.
MY SIGNATERA LABS ARE ALIGNED WITH MY 6-MONTH CITY OF HOPE CHECK-UPS. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOTHING 100%, IT HELPS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TEST THAT CAN POSSIBLE DETECT CHANGES. THE GOOD NEWS, RECENTLY NATERA APPROVED MY MISC LABS TO BE TAKEN AT SITE. REASON, I HAVE SMALL ROLLING VEINS, USUALLY A CHILD BUTTERFLY PIC WORKS. AS A HEALTHY YOUNG WOMAN IN 20'S DONATED BLOOD TO RED CROSS. AFTER 3 DRAW AND 2 NURSES PUMPING THEY SAID, THIS IS HARD FOR BODY, NO NEED TO DONATE AND IF LABS ARE NEEDED LET THEM KNOW, HARD PIC,ETC.
WITH RADIATION AND CALCIFICATION, I AM OFFICIALLY A HARD PIC. I GO TO NATERA LABS VS WITH PRAYER TRAVELING NURSE HAS EZ POKE. CORPORATE IN RIVERSIDE, CA APPROVED PATIENTS TO BRING THEIR OTHER LABS IN. HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL FOLLOW SUIT NATIONALLY.

PLEASE DO LABS, YOU WILL RECEIVE REPORT ON SIGNATURA CHART, YOUR DR,ETC.
ALIGNING LABS WITH CHECK UPS AND SEMI ANNUAL PCP CHECK UPS WITH THEIR LABS, IT SOFTENS THE HOKI POKI POKS AND GOD WILLING A CHERRY ON TOP WHEN ALL LAB TESTS ARE IN OUR HEALING FAVOR. PLZ DO LABS.