First blood test due Friday for liquid biopsy monitoring trial

Hi Cloudier, what a day indeed! I think your feelings of fear are very understandable. Speaking for myself, every stage of my treatment, although welcome in terms of getting rid of the cancer and hopefully keeping it away, has made me aware all over again of the enormity of a cancer diagnosis. It’s big and it’s scary. I keep my fear ‘damped down’ most of the time and get on with enjoying life, but I can’t say it’s ever that far away. That’s my new normal. In many ways it’s made me appreciate the little joys of everyday life more (eg wonderful autumn colours today on a walk with a dear friend), but I’d much much rather I’d never had to hear the word cancer in reference to my body and my life.
My guess is that the blood test on Friday is frightening because it brings home yet again that you have had a cancer diagnosis and that there’s a possibility (my big fear) that it could recur. Presumably your blood tests will involve waiting for results? For me, all tests are now ‘loaded’ in a way they weren’t before, and waiting for any results is tortuous. It’s great that you are part of a trial that sounds like it’s a chance to be monitored really thoroughly but I guess it carries the additional anxiety of increased testing. 

Of course I may be completely off the mark! Wishing you well whatever and sending a big virtual hug your way, HFxx 

Thank you HappyFeet1 for your kind words. Yes, you are right. But you’ve just reminded me of something else, and that is that ALL tests  are now ‘loaded’ in a way that they were never before. Even going to the dentist (when they look around your mouth for lesions) is a flipping reminder!! I have since calmed a little since writing that post. A friend who recently died could not understand my fears (about having these blood tests) at all. She got a breast cancer recurrence 6 years after her initial diagnosis, but it was stage 4. She said that she would have grabbed this trial with both hands, as given the opportunity she might have had it picked up at an earlier stage. 

and yes, I’m sitting on the bed listening to my 70’s hits, giving myself a manicure. And when my son comes in from work at 9pm, we are going to watch Bake Off extra slice together. 

I have to say though, that there sure are some clever people out there. That they have designed a personalised liquid biopsy is brilliant. Perhaps it will be the way forward for us all. A hug back to you, x 

Hi Cloudier,

Thank for this information.  Can I ask if there is any criteria (type of cancer, whether or not on active treatments or hormone drugs, etc) to be eligible for this. Particularly, I will like to know if this is only for those that have completed treatment for some time.

Thanks

Abi

Hi Abi, it is for ER positive and HER2 negative. If you Google Trak-ER trial Royal Marsden, you will find the site. It then lists some other characteristics of the diagnosis. You need to be post primary treatment, and have taken hormone treatment for at least 6 months. I have been taking it for 15 months. X

Hi Abi, here is the email address to get the full patient-information and enquire.  breastresearch.nurses@nhs.net 

If you have not been on hormone treatment for long, it is still useful to enquire, because you will need to ask your oncologist for a referral, and your biopsies, scan results are sent over before anything is done. This takes time before they get back to you with your first ‘discussion’ appointment. 

Hi Cloudier

It all sounds great and I too may look into it, I'm not completely sure I could cope with tests and the waiting involved though, I have just got 3rd year all clear mammogram but the waiting destroys me every year, I'd have to learn to cope better !! 

I know what you mean Pusheen. ButI I had a mastectomy, so that side is not scanned. I’m not as far on as you, and for me, every flipping twinge, headache etc etc puts fear into me. And sometimes that feels worse ( well for me anyway).  I have friends / neighbours who are cancer survivors. Bladder, colon, prostate, myeloma. All are monitored by scans or blood tests every 3 or 6 months for the first 5 years, with the exception of my friend who had myeloma. She has been NED for years, but has a blood test every three months for life. For one of my other friends, the scan  found something on the last scan before the five years was up. It was on her lung, a tiny nodule that had not been seen 3 months before. She had no symptoms, nothing. She had surgery three years ago, no chemo, and is fine. 
I had to weigh all this up, but went for it in the end. The actual test is nothing. I arrived at the hospital at 11.45am, and was walking out at 12.05. X

Hi Cloudier

I'm with you on it. I still worry about every ache and pain, for me that hasn't got any easier with time. I'm definitely going to ask my GP about the testing. I tried to get the new drug abemaciclib but couldn't, that was disappointing. 

Xxx

Hi Pusheen, if you are interested, the email address is above. They will tell you if you qualify for the trial, and if you are still interested they need a referral from your oncologist so they can see all your scans biopsies etc. If you still want to consider joining, they send you an appointment for a chat. You can withdraw at anytime. Hope that helps, x

Hi Cloudier,

Thank you so much for the information. I will get in touch with them. I started the hormone treatment about five month ago but I am worried about any pain anywhere no matter how small. My Oncologist said I will have mammogram (starting next year) to the good side yearly (I had mastectomy last year). So, I will be happy if accepted to this trial.

Virtual hugs 

Abi