Signatera follow up

[hurricaneheather]

as mentioned in a prior post on 2 Nov, the blood work to detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was completed. on 25 Nov, the results were received by Dr. Kristi Funk's office. she forwarded them to me with the comments, "Zero! Wow! Such great news!" the test results indicated negative, MTM/ml not detected 0.00.

when asked about what zero (truly) means, she stated, "There is a quantity of tumor DNA that can exist below the level of detection for the test, so zero is more accurately considered “undetectable” in your situation."

i am thrilled! and, i will continue monitoring every three months for two years. then if still 0.00, re evaluate stopping the first line of treatment this mind-body is receiving. at that time, the mind- body will have been receiving treatment for nine years.

[SabaAK]

Such a good news!!!❤️❤️❤️

[hurricaneheather in reply to SabaAK]

thank you!

[hopeoflife]

I am so happy for you! This is truly encouraging to me as I recently started my 2nd line treatments and have been frustrated by all the side effects come with it. But seeing your post gave me hope that maybe one day, I will be able to stop these treatments and be cancer free! Thank you so much for sharing!! 🙏❤️

[hurricaneheather in reply to hopeoflife]

you are welcome. may you be at ease.

[Ntash01]

Wonderful news

Just to clarify, have you been on the same treatment for 9 years? If I read that right - that’s amazing!

N

[hurricaneheather in reply to Ntash01]

i have been on the same treatment since Aug 2015, seven years. when we re evaluate, it will be nine years.

[Bettybuckets in reply to hurricaneheather]

wow! Did you have lots of other years where you were NED?

[hurricaneheather in reply to Bettybuckets]

yes, NEAD since March 2016.

[DDIL1 in reply to hurricaneheather]

Are you ER+ or ER/PR+ HER- ??

[hurricaneheather in reply to DDIL1]

ER/PR+ HER2 low

[Liessie]

wow, thats fantastic news, you have really made my day, it’s great to hear you have fantastic treatment results , I am so happy for you 😊xx

[hurricaneheather in reply to Liessie]

thank you!

[love2golfwell]

That is the most wonderful news! I am so happy for you. I hope your marker continues to be zero! Best wishes. Sending hugs and prayers.

[hurricaneheather in reply to love2golfwell]

thank you! receiving the hugs and prayers.

[Justme153]

May i ask what your original diagnoses was and what all was done and what meds you have taken over the course of nine years??

[hurricaneheather in reply to Justme153]

original bc dx in Oct 2011. treatment plan: radiation & Tamoxifen. bc mets to right pleura in July 2015 w/pleural effusion. procedures: pleurodesis & VATS bronchoscopy. treatment plan: Ibrance, Anastrozole, Zoladex. same line of mets treatment for seven years; it will be nine when we re evaluate.

[bracelets1]

Amazing news! This is a beacon of hope! Congrats!!

[hurricaneheather in reply to bracelets1]

thank you!

[mariootsi]

So happy for you! Amazing!

[hurricaneheather in reply to mariootsi]

thank you!

[fancydog]

Sorry I must have missed your original post. Was this part of a clinical trial or how did you get to have this done?

[hurricaneheather in reply to fancydog]

not part of a clinical trial. it started with a conversation with the breast surgeon onc. the info is on her website, tumorDNA.com.

[Best521]

That is fantastic news. So happy for you. Time to Celebrate🍾 🥂

[hurricaneheather in reply to Best521]

thank you! i am celebrating the news and me.

[Shafight]

fantastic news! I’m so happy to see hope out there!

[hurricaneheather in reply to Shafight]

thank you! hope exists…

[Aquamoron]

Wonderful news! Thanks so much for sharing!

[hurricaneheather in reply to Aquamoron]

thank you!

[NPmary]

Oh, my goodness, that is great news?Are you part of a study? Or does your cancer center do this test regularly on certain people?

[hurricaneheather in reply to NPmary]

not part of a study. it’s a ‘new’ test that the breast surgeon onc offers. spoke with her about doing it, and she agreed.

[NPmary in reply to hurricaneheather]

That is good. May l ask if you have been considered no evidence of disease? Any problem having your insurance company pay for this?Wish you the best.

[hurricaneheather in reply to NPmary]

mets dx in July 2015. the mind-body has been NEAD since Mar 2016. there is a $149 one-time processing fee for the administrative service; which includes recurring orders for repeat testing for a total of two years. Signatera interacts with insurance. there are questions and answers on Dr. Funk's website, tumorDNA.com.

[NPmary in reply to hurricaneheather]

Thank you! Happy for your NEAD.

[kokopelli2017]

hi heather. fascinating stuff. will definitely be checking out the websites you mentioned to learn more.

and I want to say 'good for you'. you are a force. I so admire your diligence in learning all you can. and applying it to your own treatment.

saving the best for last😉. congrats on your great news👏. so happy for you💛

[hurricaneheather in reply to kokopelli2017]

do check out the websites. thank you! appreciate the kind and supportive comments.

[Tam-56]

Congrats on your NED status! Gives hope to all of us!

Is this blood test the CEA? Are you on maintenance meds? Wouldn’t it be great if we could get to med free!

[hurricaneheather in reply to Tam-56]

than you! Signatera is not a tumor marker test. the treatment plan this mind-body has been receiving since Aug 2015: Ibrance, Anastrozole, Zoladex.

[Kcap430]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[hurricaneheather in reply to Kcap430]

thank you!

[Sparky95]

That is such wonderful news!!! I’m so happy for you! It brings us all hope.

[hurricaneheather in reply to Sparky95]

thank you! infinite hope.

[AutumnLove]

Epic News HH.. You are such an inspiration!🙏🏼😊

[hurricaneheather in reply to AutumnLove]

thank you! i believe sharing optimal experiences can affect one’s perspective and be encouraging.

[Kruza]

Alleluia, good news indeed. May this continue to be so.

[hurricaneheather in reply to Kruza]

thank you! I want this to continue to be so for many more years and hope for it for others.

[Lakincaid]

Wonderful news! Is Dr. Funk your primary onc or did you seek her out just for this test? After reading your post I messaged mine and this test isn’t something they do.

[hurricaneheather in reply to Lakincaid]

thank you! Dr. Funk was one of the handpicked practitioners, on the medical/well being team, with the original dx in 2011; she remains part of the team caring for me. she is amAzing! sorry to hear that the test is not offered. if interested, you can read about it, and sign up, on Dr. Funk’s website, tumorDNA.com.

[jersey-jazz]

For the past four or five years, I have been pestering the oncs for an entry into a circulating tumor cell test, to no avail, until very recently. I begin one very soon. I believe that my level of cancer is low and I am probably being over-medicated.

[hurricaneheather in reply to jersey-jazz]

yay, happy to hear that you are going to to have a ctDNA test. may the results be optimal!