HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

Lori R · 09-09-2010, 05:41 AM

Brenda,
My experience with the CTC test is in alignment with earlier posts.

I am Stage IV and after a few requests to my Onc, she finally agreed to order the test. Her belief was that it wasn't proven and had concerns about insurance willingness to pay. (which is did without any hassles....but then I am stage IV)

I don't register on any of the standard tumor marker tests, so I was desperately seeking something to give me a clue as to the party going on inside my body. (ok you partiers, time to leave....I've called the police)

Unfortunately, we started late as I took the test after I was 1/2 way through my Abraxane treatment. I was thrilled when I received a score of 0, but wasn't quite sure that the test was actually measuring anything.

When I had another recurrance I immediately retested with a score of 1. I will have another test here in November to see if the Navelbine can drive the test score back to 0.

So...seems that with everything there is a little "art" to the picture. For now, I'll continue to use.

There appears to be some controversey regarding this test and it's effectiveness.

Hope this provides some insights if your Onc is reluctant.

09-09-2010, 05:41 AM	#8
Lori R Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Evergreen, Colorado Posts: 454	Re: Circulating Cell Recurrance test Brenda, My experience with the CTC test is in alignment with earlier posts. I am Stage IV and after a few requests to my Onc, she finally agreed to order the test. Her belief was that it wasn't proven and had concerns about insurance willingness to pay. (which is did without any hassles....but then I am stage IV) I don't register on any of the standard tumor marker tests, so I was desperately seeking something to give me a clue as to the party going on inside my body. (ok you partiers, time to leave....I've called the police) Unfortunately, we started late as I took the test after I was 1/2 way through my Abraxane treatment. I was thrilled when I received a score of 0, but wasn't quite sure that the test was actually measuring anything. When I had another recurrance I immediately retested with a score of 1. I will have another test here in November to see if the Navelbine can drive the test score back to 0. So...seems that with everything there is a little "art" to the picture. For now, I'll continue to use. There appears to be some controversey regarding this test and it's effectiveness. Hope this provides some insights if your Onc is reluctant. __________________ 2007 Oct - Diagnosed - Stage IV 5 c.m. IDC - Left Side er/pr- Her2+++ Node + 2/14 - Single Liver Met Double Mastectomy Nov - Begin T+H 2008 Feb-Complete 6 cycles- T&H- NED March - Continue - Herceptin Only April - Rads for 6 weeks 2009 Continue Herceptin - Continue NED April - Recurrance- 3 cm. Liver Met May - Cryosurgery June - November - Abraxane + Herceptin Aug - PET/CT - CTC = 0 Back to NED 2010 January - Continue NED July - Recurrance - 3 cm Liver Met CTC=1 August - Cryosurgery #2 August - November Navelbine November - Back to NED - End Navelbine 2011 Feb - Recur - 4 cm Liver Met - Same Left Lobe March Surgery it is -Couldn't get a clean margin July - Confirmed continued liver involvement August - Begin Herceptin + Tykerb October - Mixed results from H+T Add Abraxane + H + T - Nov - April 2012 January PET Scan - It's working!! April - Back to NED July - Recurrance August - Begin TDM-1 Trial (Taxol + TDM-1)