CA 15-3

mommy1

I was diagnosed September '11, ILC, stage 1, strongly ER/PR positive, double mast, BRAC2 mutation of uncertain significance. My onc never checked my CA-15, and I have had no treatment, but getting ready to start Lupron/Arimidex.Can't take Tamoxifen.

My onc erroneously ordered a CA 15-3 and it was 35. Subsequently checked and it was 34, then 29, so trending downwards. Rechecked last week and it is now 46. I've had no bone scan, PET scan or any other test. SHould I be worried that it is moving up again? SHould I insist on further tests?

Thanks for any help - don't know what to do.

mommy1

Sorry - I was diagnosed Sept'10, not '11.

kt1966

Hi. I posted about high Ca15-3 a while back too. I've been trying to find info ever since, but there seems to be no clear answers!

Mine went from normal to 55 last year, then up from 222 to 387 in 3 months this year...I've had numerous scans (bone, CT, x-ray, MRI) but everything came back NED.

My oncologist has started me on new hormonal treatment (zoladex & letrozole) & reclasta "just in case". I'm now wondering with all the side effects if I should be doing all this?? Don't want recurrence, but you do pay a price with any new treatment!

Seems that tumour markers can open a whole can of worms. They work for some people & not others. I also don't know if they give you any better long term survival, or do they just make you wonder whats going on?

I don't know if anyone knows the answer, or if they do they're not saying!

 Frustrating!!

I hope yours keep the downward trend & don't go up anymore... Try not to worry tho, it may mean nothing! 

Also, the markers can go up with benign conditions...(especially true with smaller increases I think) 

kathleen1966

My tumor markers from the begnning have always been around 18 to 22.   If they were to start to rise, I think I would insist on some scans if I wasn't offered scans.  Even though it will be stressful, I would ask for some base line scans regardless for peace of mind. What is your diagnosis?  DCIS or an invasive cancer?  I am assuming you did not get any scans because you have DCIS?  I would aks for a breast MRI and possibly a pet scan.There a lot of things other than cancer that can make a tumor marker rise.  But without any initial scans, I would ask to have these so you can be sure what is going on from the start and not have any "surpirses"... I wish the best for you! Sorry, I just went and read more information and see that you have invasive Lobular carcinoma. I think you should have received some base line scans and hope this will be recommended to you!