How can an oncologist monitor the effectiveness of Abemaciclib upon a patient’s cancer? I’m having the treatment but have information about effects on my liver, bones, kidneys, etc. but is there actually a way of monitoring the presence of cancer via a blood test, like in the U.S. where people get the Signatera test done? I don’t think the NHS offers anything apart from a mammogram, but is there anything I can try to access privately in the U.K.?
Hi,
I have read a little into circulating tumour cells. My understanding, which may be incorrect, is that they are ongoing trials which are looking for circulating cancer cells in the blood of high risk breast cancer women. These studies are investigating if there is any benefit when finding these cells and then giving treatments before a tumour develops thus preventing metastasis. At present I believe in these trials half the women who are found to have cancer cells in their blood receive standard treatment ( which I believe is regular scans) and the other half are given drugs such as Abemaciclib. At present I think the results are not mature enough to give any evidence that giving treatment when cells are found in the blood prevents metastasis. The hope is that giving treatment will prevent metastasis. These trials often take years. At present I believe most women who have cancer cells found in their blood do go on to develop mets but it can take several months. I don’t know if mentally I could cope with knowing I have circulating cancer cells in my blood and being in the control cohort which is just being observed. These women are warriors. The nhs I feel isn’t going to provide financial resources to pay for treatments until the evidence shows there is a benefit to finding and then treating circulating tumour cells and even if we pay for a private test which showed these cells were there, few of us could afford the treatments privately.
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