Dr. James Duke’s Head & Neck Cancer Story

When Dr. James Duke learned that he had squamous cell carcinoma, a type of head and neck cancer, he and his family sprang into action.

“I really believe that the key is to gather as much information as you can - find people who have been through it.” - Dr. James Duke

A retired orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Duke wanted to know all of his options and spoke to his care team about next steps. After carefully reviewing all available treatment options, Dr. Duke asked his care team about receiving immunotherapy before surgery. His care team agreed, and after just one or two rounds of treatment, the tumor shrank significantly. Because of his progress, Dr. Duke’s surgery was much less invasive and most of his tongue was preserved. Today, he can eat, drink, and speak normally—making a big difference in his comfort and quality of life after treatment.

Dr. Duke insisted that his care team implement the Signatera™ MRD (molecular residual disease) test into his standard plan of care to monitor for any signs of recurrence. The Signatera™ test is a personalized blood test that detects circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to monitor for cancer recurrence or progression after treatment.

“It’s been remarkable for me and something that’s prevented me from having to have any adjuvant therapy, meaning radiation or chemotherapy” - Dr. James Duke

Following surgery, immunotherapy, and under the care and supervision of his care team, Dr. Duke’s tests have continued to come back negative after a year and a half. Dr. Duke believes that every patient should feel informed and confident when making decisions about their cancer care. He’s passionate about patient advocacy and encourages survivors to talk to their care team to find a treatment plan that works for them. Through his experience, he’s seen how important it is for patients to understand their options and speak up about what matters most to them.

“I’m so thankful that tests like Signatera™ exist, I just think that Signatera™ fits nicely into that framework of how physicians and experts are approaching cancer.” - Dr. James Duke