229. The Signatera Test Explained: Stories from Breast Cancer Survivors & Thrivers

Love the podcast? Send us a text!Tune in to this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations as Shannon and Erin share their personal experiences with the Signatara test. Shannon, living with oligometastatic breast cancer, takes a holistic approach to her treatment plan, while Erin, with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, offers insights from a different perspective.Personalized blood tests for cancer, such as the Signatera are revolutionizing the way we monitor and treat cancer. These tests offer a non-invasive and more accurate way to detect circulating tumor cells in the bloodstream, allowing for early detection of cancer recurrence or progression.The Signatera test, developed by Natera, uses a combination of blood samples and tissue samples to create a specialized test that can detect circulating tumor cells that may not be detectable through traditional testing methods. By analyzing the levels of these circulating tumor cells in the bloodstream, the test can provide valuable information about the presence of residual cancer cells and the risk of recurrence or progression.Discover how Signatara is used to determine treatment plans and explore a variety of perspectives on managing breast cancer.[00:07:12] Holistic cancer treatment approaches.[00:14:06] Breast cancer treatment options.[00:18:13] Pathology complete response.[00:23:19] Circulating tumor cells detection.[00:25:52] Genetic makeup of cancer cells.[00:30:36] Exploring treatment options.[00:37:31] Moments of advocacy and empowerment.[00:44:33] Customizing Cancer Treatments.[00:49:17] Early cancer detection methods.[00:50:52] Misconceptions about cancer stages.+++++++++++++++++++++Attend a free virtual SurvivingBreastCancer.org event:https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org/eventsFollow us on InstagramLaura and Will: https://www.instagram.com/laura_and_will/SurvivingBreastCancer.org: https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org/Breast Cancer Conversations: https://www.instagram.com/breastcancerconversations/About SurvivingBreastCancer.org: SurvivingBreastCancer.org, Inc. (SBC) is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit virtual platform headquartered in Boston with a national and global reach. Through education, community, and resources, SurvivingBreastCancer.org supports women and men going through breast cancer. We provide a sanctuary of strength, compassion, and empowerment, where those diagnosed with cancer unite to share their stories, learn invaluable coping strategies to manage wellness and mental health, and find solace in the unbreakable bond that fuels hope, resilience, and the courage to conquer adversity.Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.