My first oncologist UCLA agreed to give me Natera testing (after I insisted) the second oncologist at Loma Linda University said it was not hospital policy since not all patients can afford, I said but insurance including Medicare will cover, her answer was "Not all patients can afford" not totally sure what that meant! This oncologist did take pics of Dr Makis protocol and seem very interested in the protocol. The third oncologist at City of Hope also would not screen via Natera and said if cancer came back come see her WTH. I asked why she couldn't screen me via natera, her answer was it could come back positive then more test would have to be given. I looked at her in disbelief. I do have to thank her for given me a referral to the only cancer/researcher in City of Hope main branch that would perhaps take over my all ready existing Natera testing. I'm still shocked.

False positive rates are very low — often <1% — because the test is customized to the patient’s unique tumor mutations .
False negatives can occur, especially if tumor DNA levels are too low to detect (e.g., after successful treatment or in early-stage disease) — but exact rates vary by cancer type and stage.

All I want is my test, is that to much to ask?

Hello,
Thank you so much for sharing this. Agree that the system is so very broken. It is such a shame of how broken it is. The oath of "Do No HARM" How the individual providers live with the care they provide is beyond me (this is not ALL) and the care systems and how they operate...it is truly a crime. Dollars above PATIENTS.
Self Advocacy is so very important today more than ever.
For now, that is what I have time to add to this thread. My heart is broken for all of us patients who have to work within the systems to obtain care.

It is all so discouraging. I pray and ask for his protection and healing then i try to make a decision im comfortable with. Then I prepare myself for the inevitable. But I'm still here and able to do what I want. I dont think I can ask for more. Do I walk out of my oncologist office feeling they are frustrated because I don't just do what they say? Yes. Do I feel their treatments may not be correct or may not succeed anyway? Yes. Do I belive pharmaceutical companies care about curing cancer? No. Do I understand why doctors don't seem interested in discussing any alternatives? No. Things just don't add up. Overall, for cancer treatment, I give a vote of no confidence. There must be better after all these years. I will not blindly follow protocols with theses success rates. What's wrong with building my system to fight this disease instead of giving me toxic chemicals that further undermine my health? Can't get any oncology professional to discuss that. God help us.

I do not have age as a factor as I carry on with questions as if I am in the medical field.

I think that I am not the usual patient.

Always have questions no matter how long out your treatment has been and keep these Oncologists up to date on your symptoms and where the symptoms came from with your treatments.

I have been to and tried 3 different Oncologist's . I stopped going to the 1st he was a chovanust and arrogant. the second one I liked and connected with but she was a female. but then she retired. I tried a third male oncologist I will not go back to him. I really believe the Oncologists are lacking in their bedside manner and their attitude towards breast cancer patients 😞