Chemo sensitivity testing

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curveball
curveball Member Posts: 3,040
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After


I'm thinking of having sensitivity testing done for use in future treatment decisions. I have always assumed that a biopsy sample with living cells would be required, and since the testing itself isn't covered, there is some doubt about whether a biopsy for the purpose of collecting cells for testing would be covered either. I had an appointment yesterday with my local oncologist, and she mentioned there may be a form of testing that use a blood sample instead--I assume it would separate out the circulating tumor cells, culture and later test them. Obviously if I have to pay for the sample collection a blood draw would be much less expensive than a biopsy. Then, on a new thread this morning, I saw something about a test being done on original path slides.


I'd like more information about any kind of sensitivity testing you may have had done. What kind of sample was used? If you paid for the test yourself, how much did it cost? Is there a group of tests run on all samples, or did they skip the tx you've already had? How long does it take to get the results? Can they test for sensitivity to hormonals as well as chemo? Two different AI's failed to stop progression, and I'd like to know if it's worth trying the third, or Fulvestrant. If you used the outcome of the test to make a treatment choice, what were the results?

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  • Kireeus
    Kireeus Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2013


    This is my first post ever. I've been lurking... But I thought I should speak up when I noticed your post. I just had a blood draw today for a chemo sensitivity test. I'm in western WA too. I got it done in Bellevue at the Holistique clinic. Right now I think my blood is on an airplane on it's way to Greece where they will isolate the circulating tumor cells and then test them against various alternative substances (like Poly MVA and vitamin C) as well as all the usual chemotherapy agents. So far they've charged my credit card $3400, but it might end up being more or less. Less if they don't find any circulating tumor cells, but probably it will be more because I know that I also have a chronic leukemia, so I suspect those cells will show up as well. Since I had chemo (2Cda) twelve years ago for the leukemia, it knocked back the cancer but left me with a messed up digestive system. I want to choose the chemo carefully this time. They say I'll get the results back in 7 to 10 days. I'm very curious about results. Even though they offer the test at Holistique, I don't think I can get chemo there. They also have a very cool test there called a thermometry test which involves measuring the temperature of all your acupuncture points before and after you've been chilled for 10 minutes (cost $260). The data is fed into a computer and all kind of results pop out. The information it figured out about me stunned me so much i could barely ask questions...it was everything I'd suspected for years. It was amazing. Among other things it pointed out dental issues, including a molar issue that it said was related to cancer in the left breast. Also, a blocked gland on the left side of my neck. I'm not sure if it will be accepted or not, but they submitted the cost of the thermometry test to my insurance co. Dr. Darvish thinks that I have Lyme disease dating back from 30 years accounting for why I was susceptible to the leukemia and the BC. The thermometry test supports this idea. So I'm also awaiting a lyme blood test result. Back then I lived on the east coast....

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  • Srh242
    Srh242 Member Posts: 328
    edited January 2014

    interesting I had lyme And I am treating my ctcs with the results from the Greek test too.

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