Cancer Tests (and How to Use Them) with Dr. Megan Bernard, ND
Finishing treatment doesn’t mean your healing is done. Naturopathic oncologist Dr. Megan Bernard explains which post-cancer lab tests can be the most helpful. These tests can guide recovery, lower your risk of recurrence, and help you feel like yourself again.
1. Change Your Mindset
Instead of focusing only on “killing cancer cells,” think about “building whole-body health.” This shift helps you choose smarter tests, make calmer decisions, and create long-term healthy habits.
2. Go Beyond Basic Bloodwork
Routine blood tests (like CBC and CMP) don’t tell the full story. Adding nutrient and metabolism markers shows what your body needs right now to recover and stay strong.
3. Look at Estrogen Metabolites
For hormone-related cancers, it’s not just about estrogen levels. Dr. Bernard suggests looking at how your body breaks down estrogen, often through saliva or urine panels. This gives a clearer picture than blood levels alone.
4. Check Insulin & Growth Signals
Even people who eat well can be insulin resistant. Testing fasting insulin, fasting glucose (to calculate HOMA-IR), and IGF-1 can reveal risks tied to inflammation and cancer growth.
5. Consider ctDNA Monitoring
Circulating tumor DNA tests, like Signatera®, can detect small amounts of cancer DNA in the blood before scans can. If positive, retest in about 4 weeks before making major changes, and always pair results with steps you can control.
6. Track Tumor Markers Over Time
Markers like CEA and CA-125 can be useful, but one sudden spike isn’t always cause for alarm. Stress, illness, or even travel can affect them. Retest in a few weeks before drawing conclusions.
7. Measure Inflammation
High-sensitivity CRP and ESR are good starting points. If available, also check IL-6 and TNF-α. Elevated ferritin (with normal iron levels) may also point to inflammation.
8. Check Immune Recovery
Don’t just look at total white blood cells. Ratios like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte (LMR) are useful for tracking immune recovery and planning therapies, including integrative options like mistletoe.
9. Test Gut Health
A stool test (such as GI-MAP) can show gut balance, pathogens, gut-lining integrity, and inflammation. It’s best to wait 2–4 weeks after colonoscopy prep for accurate results.
10. Vitamin D and Glutathione
Vitamin D should be tested yearly, aiming for an optimal range—not just “normal.” If you’ve had high stress or concerns about detox, ask about glutathione testing and support.
11. Assess Toxic Burden (Smartly)
Start simple with hair or targeted urine tests. More intensive testing may be helpful in certain cases but should not replace the basics: good sleep, fiber, protein, and strength training.
12. Personalize with Pharmacogenomics
Some people process drugs differently. For example, CYP2D6 testing can show if tamoxifen will work effectively. Personalized testing can help tailor both conventional and integrative treatments.
Takeaway: These tests aren’t just about finding problems—they’re about guiding recovery and building resilience. The goal is to use them wisely, in partnership with your care team, so you can live with strength and confidence after treatment.
Check out the podcast to learn more:
Learn More About Dr. Megan Bernard:
Flourish, The Roadmap to Recovery
Suggested Resources:
- Dr. Megan Bernard’s Instagram
- Dr. Megan’s Podcast
- Dr. Megan’s Blog
- DUTCH Test – Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones
- Signatera Test – personalized cancer testing
- Summary of Helixor Studies
- Helixor – Breast Cancer literature
