You're invited! Oncodetect Patient Advocacy Webinar on Oct. 8

Ever heard cancer patients mention MRD testing, and wondered, what on earth are they talking about — and how might it help you?

Join us for a special webinar at 1 p.m. EST on Wednesday Oct. 8 that will answer your questions about MRD and why it's the buzz of the cancer community.

Man Up to Cancer founder and stage IV colon cancer patient Trevor Maxwell will team up for a conversation with Dr. Christy Russell, VP of Medical Affairs Precision Oncology at Exact Sciences for this informational webinar that's open to anyone impacted by cancer.

Exact Sciences recently launched the Oncodetect MRD test. Dr. Russell will discuss the science and data behind Oncodetect, and the potential impact of this type of testing across the cancer care continuum. Maxwell will talk about his real-world experience using MRD testing as a patient, and how it helps him and his medical teams stay ahead of his cancer.

Molecular residual disease, or MRD, is a way doctors check for tiny traces of cancer that may remain after treatment. MRD tests look for fragments of tumor DNA in the blood, which can act like a fingerprint of the cancer. Because this testing works at the molecular level, it can sometimes spot cancer activity earlier than scans or symptoms.

• If MRD is positive after surgery or treatment, it may mean some cancer is still present and there is a higher chance it could return.

• If MRD is negative, it suggests the treatment was more successful and the chance of the cancer coming back is lower.

"MRD testing doesn’t replace imaging or other follow-up care, but it gives doctors another powerful tool to track your cancer in real time," Maxwell said. "It helps guide conversations about how well treatment worked and whether more treatment or closer monitoring might be needed."

The presentation will last 60 minutes; speakers will remain available for 20 minutes after the presentation to answer the audience’s questions.

For questions about the webinar, please contact Tawanna Williams, Lead Patient Advocacy Manager, Precision Oncology for Exact Sciences, by email (tawilliams@exactsciences.com) or phone (908) 690-1191.