Blood work to check for cancer markers

Kathie100

I had blood work today to check to see if the BC has 'traveled' to other parts of my body like bone liver lung etc. evidently the lymph nodes isn't the only means of escape. I had lumpectomy last week The nodes came back negative. I'm waiting for my octotype test to come back to see if I need chemo. I'm highly ER / PR positive. Stage 1A. Has anyone on here ever gotten a positive bloodwork result back that shows the cancer is elsewhere My prognosis seems good but they are doing things I haven't even heard of before. Is this common.

Rose12

Hi Kathie, 

It is standard protocal to check your tumor markers during chemo and after treatment. I had mine checked during chemo. My Octotype score came back very high so I opted for 4 chemo treatments as a extra precaution. I get my markers checked every 4 months and then will graduate to 6 months etc. It is standard. Do not worry. My tumor markers were high during my chemo but it was from the chemo. Once done, they went back to normal. So far all is good, do not worry. 

exbrnxgrl

Checking tumor markers is not standard because they are not reliable for everyone. There are many oncs who don't consider them worthwhile and others who do. That said, yes, bc can travel through the blood stream even if you are node negative. I only had a positive sentinel node with a grade 1 bc and no reason to believe there was any metastasis. However, met was found on an unrelated PET scan and confirmed by biopsy. Blood work? Mine looks great!

Caryn

bevin

HI there, My docs ordered tumor markers at diagnosis, ca27-29 and some others, but I dont' recall specifically which additional ones.. My doc orders them every appointment and feels they provide another window of data to keep tabs on things. So, I think it depends on what is normal for your doctor and standard at their practice. Just ask  your doctor if this is their normal protocol if your nervous or worried.

dogsandjogs

The way it was explained to me by the surgeon years ago: Everyone has embryonic cancer cells in their bodies. We check to see if there is an increase. If there is we check various places for mets.   

For years I had it done annually; then quit because one of the tests wasn't covered by insurance and it was quite expensive.

But things are probably different now; this was in 1982.