Erika Rios
Patient Testimonial
A Life Changed by a Second Look
Erika Rios, Cancer Survivor
“I am living proof that Caris saves lives. ”
Erika Rios was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Like many patients, her first thought was of her family, and the fear that she might not be there to see their future.
“It’s not every day you receive news like that… we always have the hope of seeing our children grow… and receiving that news is automatically thinking that you are going to die.”
Her condition declined quickly, and treatment began immediately.
“The doctor would tell me: ‘I can control what you have, but I cannot cure you.’”
But something about Erika’s situation didn’t fully align. Her oncologist, Dr. Vitor Hugo Pastorini, made a critical decision to look deeper. He ordered MI Cancer Seek® molecular profiling and Caris GPSai® to better understand the biology of Erika’s cancer.
Erika Rios
The Moment Everything Changed
“I see on my screen: ‘Dr. Pastorini.’ I answer the call nervously…”
What she heard next changed everything.
“Erika, we have a change in diagnosis. It’s no longer metastatic, it’s not breast cancer. You have Hodgkin lymphoma, and 99% of people who have Hodgkin lymphoma are cured.”
“I cried like I had never cried in my life. I cried from happiness.”
Caris GPSai helped identify the true origin of Erika’s tumor, revealing a life-altering treatment recommendation. As part of comprehensive molecular profiling, this AI-powered technology analyzes a tumor’s DNA and RNA and compares it to a large database of cancer types, giving physicians clearer insight to guide more informed care decisions.
With the right diagnosis, Erika’s path forward changed from uncertainty to hope. What once felt like the end became a highly treatable disease and a future she could once again imagine. As of last fall, Erika is now cancer-free.
“I am living proof that Caris saves lives. And just as it did it for me, it can do it for the rest of the patients.”
Erika’s story is a reminder of what is possible when deeper insight leads to greater clarity, creating more time, more options and more moments that matter.
To learn more about the Caris GPSai test, visit CarisLifeSciences.com.
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Knowing what cancer looks like at the molecular level can lead to better treatment options.