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Karina121293
Karina121293 Member Posts: 370
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Got the results of tumor markers today and I am upset... CA 15-3 is in normal range, though elevated than the previous time in October. But CEA is 27, and it was 8 in October. I know there has been threads about this test and many say they are not reliable, but I am so scared and freaked out. My onco said she wants the test done in a month, then if required order a CT or a bone scan. My ultrasound and chest x-ray is all clear. I have no symptoms, except the on-off knee pain, which I presume can be arthritis triggered by tamoxifen.

Please, anyone who has experienced elevated tumor markers, without spread or due to other benign conditions, I need your input and support. My mind is going wild at the moment, can't face anyone, especially my kids.Too shocked to even cry. Want to hide myself, sleep and then wake up in a different reality... Aaaahhh, hate this disease..

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2012

    Ack, sorry you are going through this. I am not there yet, but my mom had ovarian cancer 4 years ago, and gets the same tests. She did have elevated numbers once, quite elevated, and it turned out to be from some minor infection.

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited January 2012

    Karina, I'm sorry you're having this scare.  I've had two different onc and neither one of them did/do marker test because they don't trust them.  I remember several on here that this has happened to so, hopefully they will be along soon.  Let us know how things go.

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited January 2012

    I dont have that test done, I used to have CA 27/29 done and one time had a jump from an episode of cellulitis, we think.  I dont get them done anymore  - couldnt handle the stress and my onc was fine with that because they are not super reliable. 

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  • Karina121293
    Karina121293 Member Posts: 370
    edited January 2012

    Thank you for replies girls. I was just considering to refuse doing them, too much stress to cope, even worse than the initial diagnosis. And Google is so confusing, some articles say over 100 is an indication of mets, and some give it 20. What I don't really understand is how can CA 15-3 be normal and CEA elevated??? Too, too confusing... I was just moving on so nicely, full of strength and hope . This just knocked me down. Wish my onc never ordered them...

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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited January 2012

    Karina,  I wish you could go back in time and just tell the onc. not to do markers or something.  I don't know why one would be up and the other not.  They must measure different proteins.  Hold onto the thought that they are NOT reliable.  So many have said this, it must be true.  Please let us know what's happening,  Fingers crossed,  hugs,  G.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited January 2012

    Never a dull moment, huh Karina.

    Yup, I heard tumor markers can be unreliable to screen for mets.  My doc warned me about that recently when he sent some blood out, just in case they came back out of wack.  Try to breathe and unless you are symptomatic LIVE!  (Now if I can practice what I preach:) 

    (((Hugs)))

    Sharon

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  • Karina121293
    Karina121293 Member Posts: 370
    edited January 2012

    Gitane, Sherri, Sharon, thanks !!!! I am a bit calmer now, but know that will have to make up my mind about it. It's either refusing to have them any more or do as my doctor wants, which means more tests and more stress. My ultrasound on mast scar, other breast, lymphs and abdomen are just fine, as well as chest x-ray and I feel pretty good, so would have been just ideal to hang on to that and live...

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  • bookgirl
    bookgirl Member Posts: 128
    edited January 2012

    Not sure if I should be posting here or not but I was looking for info about elevated TMs for me (ca. 27/29 are elevated) and came across this post. I wanted to say that my very good friend a loooong time survivor of  melanoma with many lymph nodes involved, was told she had high TMs and cancer had most likely spread to her liver. Turns out she had Hepatitis B when young and it caused her Markers to be way out of wack and stay that way. This whole thing sucks! Good luck to to everyone waiting of results.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2012

    Karina: just reading everyone's experiences with the tumor marker testing is giving me second thoughts about having my two oncs do them in the first place.  One time my onc did mine one marker came back at 50 which threw up the red flag and so he had his lab tech do the test over again and it came back in the normal range.  So I guess if he freaked out at "50" what really is normal?  Don't worry and just maybe rely more on the CBC's. 

    shelly 

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