Liquid Biopsy? Questions….

[Cancer2x]

Where can you get a liquid blood biopsy? WHY would you get one? Is it covered by insurance? Could I get one after RP and SBRT? How different/sensitive is it to PCa?

Curious mind wandering. Thanks!

[Tall_Allen]

Only if you have metastases.

[Cancer2x in reply to Tall_Allen]

Only in abdominal lymph nodes so far, but have been having pains in my groin on the side treated with SBRT.

[NanoMRI]

I am post RP, salvage RT and salvage ePLND. With no evidence of disease, I get mine for earliest possible detection of recurrence, ordered by hematologist or oncologist, covered by Medicare.

My latest this past July was not NED as previous - it identified TP53 mutation, indicative of cancer but not specific. Turned out to be unexpected melanoma metastasis in my liver. Had I not done that test and imaging my melanoma metastasis would be growing today, unknown to me. Instead, forth of four doublet immunotherapies done, imaging this Friday.

[j-o-h-n]

And a question for you..... Could you update you bio? If possible, please do cause it helps you and helps members too. Thank you and have a Great and Happy 2025.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good. Humor.

j-o-h-n

[V10fanatic]

Tempus did mine for free. Check their webpage for financial options.

[Cancer2x]

Thanks!

[Seasid]

Could you please ask this question from your medical oncologist if you have one? Plus could you please fill out your bio?

[Seasid]

What is your PSA? Usually a liquid biopsy has a very limited use if your PSA is under 5.

[NanoMRI in reply to Seasid]

As we have discussed, I have had several, done well under 0.1, (yes0.1), with no evidence of mets, and yes, very useful. Earliest possible detection of recurrence/growth/spread is the objective.

[Seasid in reply to NanoMRI]

I don't have 5000 dollars for that.

[Cancer2x]

last post- SBRT PSA was, luckily, 1.2

[Seasid]

Why did not you ask about a tissue biopsy samples before radiation? Liquid biopsy is very expensive and will probably not yield with anything meaningful. You could still ask your doctor about it, but again in your situation it is probably useless for now until your PSA is under 5.

[Cancer2x]

Thanks! Yeah, was just wondering about the test. My PSMA showed two very avid lymph nodes, and had CT-SBRT, which seems to have worked so far.

[Seasid in reply to Cancer2x]

Did you also have a pelvic lymph nodes radiation?

[Cancer2x]

Yes. Couldn’t figure out how to include that in the profile boxes. Had CT- SBRT to both lymph nodes, a week to each node.