Tumor markers

maryland

Just wondering how many stage 3 ladies have regular tumor marker blood tests and what your experience has been with the results and further testing because of them. My CEA is up and my MO has ordered a bone scan

Freya244117

Hi genny, I'm stage IV, my tumour markers have never changed from the normal range since I was dxd originally at stage III. My MO does them as part of my normal blood work, but they don't mean anything in my case. It is good to get a baseline, but lots of things can affect the numbers that are not cancer.

Best wishes.

MinusTwo

My replacement MO is continuing the CA 27.29 that my retired MO started. He is NOT happy to do them since he firmly believes they are a waste of time & money, and he won't order the other two. I do understand that they can fluctuate, but I also appreciate watching for a trend as my original MO discussed. Strangely this guy's perfectly happy ordering a CT scan with & w/o contrast every six months. Since I'm 3 years past chemo & two years past any treatment, I think that's more over-kill than a TM test. Well, I will continue to insist on the blood work.

Kicks

I'm 7+ yrs since DX and have never had a tumor marker test. Dr T. Said that they either give false sense of safety or create fear - so no reason to do.

In the yrs I have had some Bone Scans, MRIs with contrast for specific reasons/possible issues/injuries - not just 'routine'. I do get blood work (CBC) every 6 mths before I see my PA.

I see no reason (my PA agrees) unless there is a known issue that needs to be checked out, why subject your body to unnecessary radiation after any cancer.

sbelizabeth

My onc draws both 15-3 and 27.29 with each round of labs, now about three times a year. She never draws them immediately after a surgery and if I've been sick, we know it can affect the numbers.

Since I've had them done regularly since diagnosis, it's just one way to watch for trending. Yes, we both know mets can show up without a blip in the markers. She will order a CT or MRI anytime there's a new twinge I bring to her, but I try to avoid unnecessary radiation, and a CT is a LOT of radiation.

I've had a bone scan and an MRI on my lower back due to nagging pain. But when I had both knees replaced last fall, my back feels a lot better. I used to blame it on the Femara, but it was probably an issue of being off-kilter.

maryland

Freya, how was your bone mets discovered?

Minus Two, I was originally with MO that saw me through all my chemo but wasn't crazy about her, then i switched over to Cleveland Clinic after all my tx was completed and that MO wouldn't do them either, well she ended up leaving the area so I found one that routinely does TM's through another lady on the BCO boards. He's about 45 minutes away but considering I only go every 6 months it's not so bad. He does the CA 27.29, CA15-3 and CEA. CA27.29 went from 15 to 25 but still within normal limits. The CEA went from 2 to 4 which is above normal limits by not by much so I was kind of surprised that he ordered the scan instead of just waiting 3 months and repeating the test but he's been an oncologist for a very long time so I'm doing what he suggests. Bone scan is today so we'll see.

sbelizabeth, I've had back pain for awhile, I know that I have 2 ruptured disks from an MRI 15 years ago. I had a bone scan a year and a half ago because of hip pain, and I had one at time of dx. Had an MRI on my right knee last week, went to ortho yesterday and he said I have a torn meniscus and arthritis, says I need a knee replacement but he'd like to wait till I'm a little older, I'm 59. I'd like to wait till I retire, I'm a hairdresser and can't take 2-3 months off. He's going to try inserting some sort of gel. Maybe that is part of what is causing my back pain. 42 years of standing on my feet is taking it's toll. How was your recovery with your knee replacements?

Kicks, I know most MO's don't do them but for me they give me a sense of relief or control or something. I personally think it should be the patient's choice as to whether we get them or not.

I'd like to know how many stage 4 ladies had their mets discovered buy TM's alone but don't know where to post the question.

Thanks for responding all.

cive

To your question about how many stage 4 people had their mets discovered by TMs alone, not me!  Like most stage IV people, I didn't even have TMs done until mets caused a problem elsewhere.  First, TMs don't even work for everyone and rising TMs can be due to a non-cancer event such as inflammation.  My TMs are a good predictor, but I was happy to have CA27.29 down in the low 200s from the original 1100s.  My MO uses them to see how effective my AI is and looks only to radical rises (like doubling and tripling) as an indicator of the effectiveness of the AI that I'm on.  Progression is determined by CT scans, not the TMs.

maryland

vibe, I know you cannot diagnose metastasis with TM's but what I was meant to say is how many people had bone scans or and MRI's due to elevated TMs only to find out they had metastasis

sbelizabeth

Genny, my recovery from knee replacement was pretty fast and uneventful. I'm a cyclist, so when my physical therapist said "get an exercise bike," I pulled out my mountain bike and started riding it slowly around the neighborhood. Best rehab ever.

I work at a desk, not on my feet, so it worked OK to go back to work after 7 weeks recovery. I still did physical therapy after work for about a month. Recovery is painful, yes, but it's a resolving post-op pain, not the grinding, constant knaw of arthritis.

My knees were arthritic past the point of more conservative treatment, but my husband's troublesome knee has responded well to the Orthovisc, which is a kind of gel to help lubricate and cushion the joint.

stephilosphy00

Hi all, my CA 27.29 doubled from 10 to 20 during chemo. Should I be concerned about it?

TectonicShift

.

sbelizabeth

Stephilophy00--not at all. Mine went from 22 to 42 during chemo, and a rise in tumor markers is very common during this time.

MinusTwo

Steph - The point of TM's is to see a trend - so anything less than 3 separate tests over a period of time should not be worrisome.

fredntan

My Va oncologists wouldnt do TMers. Wouldnt even scan me when I presented with hip pain. said I was exercising too much. So a friend told me about my now oncologist. I had early bone mets. My markers were in 70's. I am now down to monthly lab work. markers included. I have been ned for 3 years. I moved to be with my oncologist. And it turns out the hip that was hurting-didnt have C at all. I had undiagnosed hip deformatey. forgot name of it of course. But am ever so thankful it wasnt picked up as a baby.

CCtoo

cive...I wonder what kind of tumor markers BLR. Test I had...Once. said we're good score of 13! Said anything under 38 is normal....What test was this? I thought it was to show if any cancer remained in your body!!! Can anyone help me?

maryland

fredntan, congrats on 3 years ned and thank God you found that oncologist. I am driving 45 minutes to get to the one I am seeing when I am only 5 minutes from Cleveland Clinic. I truly think TM's should be a personal choice, makes me mad that many MO's say no if that's what you want. You are not the first on that has told me mets were discovered by tests run due to elevated markers alone.

CCtoo, my MO does CA27.29, normal range <38,

CA 15-3, normal range <30

CEA, normal range <2.5 or <5 for heavy smokers

It was my CEA that went from 2 to 4 and my CA 27.29 was up 10 but still in normal range. My bone scan was clear, just arthritis here and there. MO wants me to repeat markers in 1 month and if elevated more will order a PET. For right now I am relieved.

cive

CCtoo:  Never heard of a BLR test.  The tumor marker tests that I am aware of are CA27.29, CA15-3, and CEA.

hopefour

fredntan….I missed your posted and just had to say how wonderful it is to hear you have been NED for 3 years!!