# 32:  Is It Really Gone? How to Check for Recurrence Without a Scan

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-flourish-after-cancer-podcast-7405737/32-is-it-really-gone-how-to-check-for-recurrence-without-a-scan
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-flourish-after-cancer-podcast-7405737/32-is-it-really-gone-how-to-check-for-recurrence-without-a-scan.md
Podcast: [The Flourish After Cancer Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-flourish-after-cancer-podcast-7405737)
Published: 2026-02-25T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://flourishaftercancer.podbean.com/e/ctdna-and-mrd-audio-new/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ahh5z9ss7jnai6yr/ctDNA_and_MRD_audio_new.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-flourish-after-cancer-podcast-7405737/episodes/32-is-it-really-gone-how-to-check-for-recurrence-without-a-scan
Duration seconds: 2263

## Resource

Clear Scans… but still wondering “is it gone?” After cancer treatment ends, many women are left with a quiet, persistent question:How do I know if the cancer is really gone? In this episode of The Flourish After Cancer Podcast, I teach about more modern and advanced post-treatment testing — including blood tests that can sometimes detect cancer-related signals earlier than scans. This episode is designed to help you: Exhale and step out of constant vigilance Understand what these tests are actually telling you (and what they aren’t) Learn how to think about recurrence monitoring without living in fear This is a grounded, science-informed conversation about clarity — not chasing certainty. 🔗 Episode Relevant Resources The First 4 Steps To Staying Cancer Free After Cancer: www.FlourishAfterCancer.com/Presentation Work with us! Visit www.FlourishAfterCancer.com/NextSteps to learn more Natera company (Signatera test for ctDNA - no affiliations): www.natera.com RGCC testing (no affiliations): www.rgcc-international.com/tests ⚠️ This is a must-listen if: You’ve been told your scans are “clear,” but still don’t feel fully at ease You’ve heard about blood tests that can detect cancer sooner than imaging You’re wondering if you should be monitoring more than you currently are You feel anxious between follow-ups or scans You want to reduce recurrence risk without living test-to-test ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: Why there is no single test that can prove cancer is “truly gone” What molecular residual disease (MRD) actually means in plain language How blood-based monitoring tools differ (ctDNA, CTCs, and tumor markers) Where tumor-informed ctDNA tests (like Signatera) fit — and where they don’t 💡 You’ll leave this episode with: A calmer, clearer understanding of post-treatment…

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## Transcript

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