Tony Opted for Robotic RPLND After New TC Blood Tests Spiked

In this episode of It Takes Balls, testicular cancer survivor Tony Salas shares how his cancer journey led him into one of the newest and most rapidly evolving areas of cancer surveillance: MicroRNA-371 testing and Signatera ctDNA monitoring.

Tony opens up about the symptoms and diagnosis that changed his life, including the whirlwind of appointments, surgery, and learning how quickly testicular cancer treatment decisions have to be made. But what makes his story especially unique is what came after treatment—navigating surveillance while trying to avoid chemotherapy and gain greater confidence in whether his cancer was truly gone.

Throughout the episode, Tony discusses using MicroRNA 371, an emerging blood test showing major promise in detecting active germ cell tumors, along with Signatera, a personalized circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) test designed to monitor for residual disease and recurrence. He shares what it was like balancing traditional surveillance methods like CT scans and tumor markers with these newer technologies, and how the uncertainty of recurrence can weigh heavily on survivors mentally and emotionally.

The conversation also explores the emotional side of survivorship, including scannxiety, the fear of recurrence, and the challenge of moving forward after treatment while still feeling tied to constant monitoring. Tony speaks candidly about the importance of self-advocacy, staying informed about evolving cancer research, and finding ways to regain a sense of control during survivorship.

This episode is not only a powerful survivor story, but also an insightful look at the future of testicular cancer surveillance and personalized cancer monitoring. Whether you’re navigating a diagnosis, currently in surveillance, or interested in the latest advances in testicular cancer treatment and recurrence detection, Tony’s experience offers both hope and perspective.

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Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner http://www.tomwillner.com