tumor marker up during chemo

weety

Yikes!  I just picked up the results of my ca 27 29 test and it's at 48.  I was at 27 at the beginning of chemo (2 months ago)  and now I am almost done now with my chemo treatments.  I only have one more left.  Has anyone else had their markers increase during chemo? 

Ozzi

Yes, I did during my intial chemo.  I totally freaked  My oncologist told me then that the marker was taken in error that is should not be taken during active chemo for just this reason.  Don't worry about it. 

weety

Thanks Ozzi, I thought they sometimes use these markers in women known to have metastic cancer to follow progress during chemo.  Increasing levels mean treatment is not working.

Did your numbers jump up or was it gradual?  ( I see it was a very long time ago--congrats on all those years!)

If my cancer is growing somewhere else, that would mean it must be resistent to both taxotere and herceptin.  That's quite a scary thought!  I hope it is just the chemo playing tricks like yours was.  I only have one more chemo to go, so I'll be having all my scans once I'm finished anyways. 

weety

I just realiized I posted this in the wrong thread.  I was supposed to put it in the "not diagnosed but concerned" thread.  Sorry for the mistake.  I will repost it in the correct place.