Markers up & Vit D low

suebak

Looking for some advice or opinions.  My tumor markers were at 27 when diagnosed, 27 after surgery and radiation, and now they are a 32.  Should I be concerned?  Also my vitamin D level is a 10.  Is there a connection between the two. 

Sue

kt1966

Hi Sue, your markers may be up because of cancer cells dying from the radiation, or from inflammation in the body somewhere. Markers are not reliable for everyone too.

Most oncologists don't do them and the ones who do look for a trend over months- if they keep going up then they scan to see if anythings going on. Yours haven't risen by much, and it may be a one off. They may be back to normal already!

Vit D is something you should maybe get a prescription for- I'm on 1.25mg cholecalciferol a month (50,000 IU) for bone health and it ?helps prevent cancer- so something to persue with your onc.

Hoping you can relax and not stress about the markers- when do you see your onc next? 

37antiques

Hi Sue!

I wouldn't stress over the markers, they are notoriously unreliable for a lot of people.  Mine have always been perfectly normal.

Vitamin D is what I like to call a long term side effect.  It always seems to drop after treatment.  Take the nice prescribed horse pill size dose, and make sure you follow up on it.  After your next bloodwork, if it has not changed, ask them to find out the root cause and not just treat the D.  Parathyroid is something to look out for, (I think it's another lovely SE), but don't concern yourself with it unless your D doesn't go up.

((hugs))

Sue 

LRM216

Mine was always very low at the beginning of my "journey."  It's important that you take Vitamin D3.  My onc was happy when mine got to 32 - I was not, and judging by every one else's onc (especially since I am triple neg Vit D level is real important) I began to take a 5,000 unit Vit D3 pill each day, and still do.  I am up to about 55 and that satisfies me.  Some gals docs want theirs anywhere from 40 up and some are even in the 70's.  I love my onc, but why she still insists anything in the 30's is good is really outdated and surprises me.  Also, be aware that those mega doses of Vit D your onc or other docs may give you a script for are NOT Vit D3, just Vit D.  It takes a long time of being on Vit D3 to see your levels rise, so don't be impatient.  It will happen. 

suebak

I am taking 5000 iu vit D3 a day also.  My concern is not only the vit D being low, but the markers going up also. I would think the markers would go down if the cancer was gone.  I have read on this site and others, markers are not reliable.  I have also read that many woman on here watch their markers, and if they are going up, they know their cancer is on the move. I have only been dealing with this non-sense for a year and I am already tired of it.  I thought about this all night.  I am going to have my markers done every three months and see if there is a pattern of rising.  If so, then I will get scanned.  Thank you ladies for your reponses.

LRM216

My onc tests my markers every 6 months.  She said they are not reliable, but she does them to look at the "trend."  If they go above normal, she will test more often and if they continue to elevate, she will do further testing.  Don't forget that so many other things can cause tumor markers to elevate as well, i.e., inflammation, certain meds, bruising, etc.  32 is still within the normal range - I think it tops out at 37 or 38, someone correct me if I am wrong.  Mine have gone from 9 to 13 to 18 back to 11.  I don't think you have anything to worry about.  Just start working on getting your Vit D level up, but as far as I know, there is no correlation between the two.  When my Vit D was at a whopping 6 my tumor markers were still low in count. 

madpeacock

My markers have been 15-16 pretty consistently. My vitamin D level is 77 after 2+ years at 5000 IU per day. My onc is THRILLED with this level, so she is one who gets the importance of it. I think it is so important for general health too. I haven't had even a cold since I have been taking it.