Finding peace in the waiting: Chloë Crampton on living with ctDNA testing

For people with breast cancer, it can sometimes spot recurrence or progression sooner than scans, tumor markers, or symptoms signal it. It is typically prescribed to monitor for recurrence in people with stage IIb and higher breast cancers after treatment. This knowledge can offer medical guidance in some cases, but also emotional relief.

Chloë is now four years past her stage II triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis and continues to use ctDNA testing as part of her follow-up care. The actor-turned-celebrity-chef says the regular rhythm of testing has helped her settle into survivorship and begin to rebuild trust in her body.

Q: Can you remind readers about your diagnosis and initial treatment?

I was diagnosed in July 2021 with stage II, grade 3 triple-negative breast cancer. At first, my doctors thought I was estrogen-positive because of a small reading on my biopsy. So, I had a lumpectomy and was told I’d only need radiation and tamoxifen. That all changed once they confirmed it was triple-negative breast cancer. I went through IVF to preserve my fertility, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.

Q: How often are you receiving ctDNA tests now, and has that changed over time?

I’ve been tested every three months since I started treatment, and that hasn’t changed. I had my first Signatera test before chemo, and I’ve kept up that schedule. I actually like the three-month cadence. It’s a reminder that I’m still okay. After I reach my five-year mark, we’ll probably reduce the frequency, but for now it feels right.

Q: How does ctDNA testing fit in with your other follow-up care?

I alternate a breast MRI and a mammogram every six months, so I’m doing one or the other each year. I also see my oncologist every six months, but I don’t receive any ongoing treatment. On my own, I sometimes schedule full-body MRI scans for extra reassurance. When you have triple-negative breast cancer, recurrence can spread to other areas, so I like having that full picture.

Q: Has ctDNA testing ever changed your treatment plan?

So far, all my results have been negative, which is the best news. That means I haven’t had to make new treatment decisions. But my oncologist and I have talked about what we’d do if a positive result came back. We have discussed options, depending on what the test finds along with follow-up testing. My doctor said that could mean restarting chemo or trying a chemo pill to attack the cancer cells if we’re able to detect certain changes. I feel a lot of comfort knowing we have a plan.

Q: How do ctDNA results compare with other monitoring tools in shaping your care?

When I first heard about ctDNA testing, it was new technology, and it still is for someone with early-stage breast cancer like me. Some doctors didn’t know how to use the information yet. But I wanted to advocate for myself, so I signed up and asked my oncologist to order the tests. Now it’s become more familiar to patients and doctors, and even has a breakthrough device designation from the FDA. It’s exciting to see how quickly it has become an option in clinical care.

Q: How do you feel when waiting for results now compared with earlier in your journey?

In the beginning, my PTSD was at its worst. I wasn’t sure if I’d even make it to three or four years out. But ctDNA has helped me feel safer. I’ll never fully trust my body — it felt like it betrayed me — but I’ve started to believe in it again. Hearing “you’re okay” every three months helps calm my fears. Some people might find the testing too constant, but for me it’s a steady reassurance.

Q: What role do you see ctDNA playing as you move forward?

I assume after five years, the testing will become less frequent, maybe every six months or once a year. By then, I hope I won’t need it as much as a lifeline. However, it remains a crucial part of my journey right now. I want it to stay in my care plan, even if less often.

Q: What would you say to others with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer who are thinking about ctDNA testing?

For people with early-stage breast cancer, ctDNA testing is less common and the clinical trials for how to best use the information are still going on. But, if it feels like something you want to explore with your doctor, absolutely go for it if you feel it’s right for you. It’s given me so much peace of mind and helped me trust my body again. I feel like myself again. A new version of myself, but stronger and healed.

I know how scary those first months and years are, but you will get through it.

Q: What do you wish oncologists and caregivers understood about ctDNA testing for people after treatment?

The anxiety we live with is constant. Every pain or twinge makes you think, “Is it back?” Having that reassurance every three months takes the edge off PTSD and helps us move forward. On a practical level, ctDNA can give information at the cellular level before a tumor grows large enough to show up on a scan or cause symptoms. If it’s negative, you get the peace you need to keep living your life.

Q: Looking back, what’s been the biggest impact of ctDNA testing on your life?

Being part of the early group that helped bring ctDNA testing into wider use was powerful. That feels amazing. But for me personally, the biggest impact has been emotional. It’s helped me heal, move on, and feel hope for the future.

Q: What message of hope would you share with others navigating survivorship?

Time is the biggest healer. At first you feel like a shadow of your former self, unsure who you’ve become. But with time, you learn to love this new version of you. Tools like ctDNA testing can help you get through the hardest moments, but so does giving yourself grace. Life after cancer isn’t about going back — it’s about moving forward into a stronger, brighter future.

Chloë’s journey shows how ctDNA testing can be more than just a medical tool — it can be an emotional anchor during the uncertain years after treatment. For her, the steady rhythm of results has offered reassurance, helped rebuild trust in her body, and eased the constant fear of recurrence. As more people with breast cancer gain access to ctDNA testing, stories like Chloë’s highlight how this technology can support not only clinical decision-making but also the emotional resilience needed to move forward after cancer.

Visit LBBC’s Testing and precision medicine page to learn more about ctDNA and other biomarker testing that can help provide more information about your breast cancer.