CA 27-29

Hopepraylove2017

is an elevation of concern if it is still within the normal range?

bevin

there, as I understand it is not. Normally if they elevate and your over the baseline of normal then generally repeat tests amd will look for the cause. If you are worried, please call your Onco. They'd rather you call and ask questions than worry. They are paid to worry

Good luck. I'm sure others will be by soon and chime in.

Hopepraylove2017

Thank you for your input. I'm here on behalf of my mom. Her normal baseline has been 10/11 for the last 5 years but this last labs showed her TM at 21. He ordered a bone scan and PET scan to check. I'm happy he is wingback proactive but its worrisome to me that he's checking everything.

MinusTwo

Cancer Antigen tests are notoriously unreliable. The only thing that makes sense is a trend over several tests. Many docs won't even order them.

Hope - it will probably be easier for all of us if you post all your questions on one thread. That way we will know the back story and be able to follow along with thoughtful answers. Also, when you get a chance, go to My Profile and fill in your Mom's diagnosis & treatment information and make it public.

Hopepraylove2017

ok I will do that! Thank you!!

Les123

Yesterday I was excited that it's my last chemo treatment. However, prior to my last treatment my MO said on my blood work my tumor marker CA 27.29has started to climb. Anything below 38 considered normal. Before my surgery I was at 42. After my surgery I was at 32. And before chemo It was down to 22. However this last bloodwork the day before to my last chemo it went up to 62.4 yikes. A little teary-eyed and scared. She told me nothing to be alarmed about yet. Did this ever happened to anyone? I had PET Scan/Bone Scans and MRI done in Feb. prior to my surgery and all came back negative of any other cancer besides the lump in my right breast.

SpecialK

Les - inflammation can drive your result higher, and this happened to me during chemo as well. I was within the normal range prior to surgery and chemo, but 65 at the end of chemo. It took about 8 weeks, but as the after effects of chemo wore off the number returned to normal. Try not to worry

Les123

SpecialK,thank you for getting back to me! It really has helped me get through today knowing that something else could raise these markers other than cancer.

SpecialK

Les - no problem, also wanted to say that last year I had an increase in my CA27/29, up into the 40's, so above the top end of normal. My number had remained firmly in the normal range, with some fluctuation, over the previous 4 years. I had a PET done at the same time, not necessarily due to the elevated number, but rather due to the result of the BCI test that helps determine whether to stay on hormonal therapy beyond five years. My result indicated that I fall into the 10% of patients who have a high recurrence risk, and a low drug benefit. My MO and I agreed that a PET was in order to check on things generally since it had been a few years since I had one, and because I was potentially not receiving a normal benefit from the AI drugs I was on. My PET lit up bilaterally across the chest, which combined with the elevated CA27/29 was disconcerting. Turned out to be a bunch of inflammatory stuff, a large (3cm) suture granuloma nodule at the site of my previous cancer, and other post-surgical inflammatory process. Once all of that was removed the CA27/29 numbers returned to the normal range. I am a person who is sensitive to this test when I have inflammation beyond the norm, you may have the same situation.

Les123

I just finished my last round of CT chemo (4 rounds every 3 wk). I have a follow up with MO in 4 weeks. From there it's surgery to exchange tissue expander out to implant and lift on left side. it's been so hard to stay positive and not worry about mets or recurrence. I think it's the TNBC that scares me. I also second guess my decision to do uni versus both breast. My doctors say why do both with no sigh of cancer in left breast and no cancer in lympnode. It's just a guessing game I feel. I look at others that have stage 1 or 2 and no cancer in nodes only to show up soon after with mets.

trinigirl50

Chemo and radiation can raise tumour markers up to 3 months after treatment in some people. I have fluctuating markers, they go up every time I have bursitis (of the shoulder or hip). So any inflammation can do this for some. I think once it's within normal parameters then no need to be concerned.

Hopepraylove2017

just wanted to update - my moms scans came back all clear of cancer thank God!

stephilosphy00

Hmmm, I have taken Aromasin for 2 months. My CA27.29 actually went up to 9.1 from 5.7 a month ago. I just completed 33 sessions of radiation last week. Not sure if it was the radiation raised it up. Should I be concerned about it? Thanks!

cive

Steph, no you should not be concerned.  TMs are affected by a number of things including inflammation which you likely have from the rads.  They generally are not used unless you are stage IV because they give little prognosis except for dramatic increases (current tx not working) or drops (current tx working) and are used primarily as to when to have scans.  For some women they don't work at all. 

Ca2729

my levels were greater than 9000! I can’t believe I’m still here! They are down to 1400, awful but at least chemo is working!

Amrie

I had lumpectomy April 6 and just completed 33 treatments of radiation. My number before surgery was 13 and was told therefore I would not require chemo. I just met with onco dr who did Bloodwork. I just saw my number is “<8”. Why wouldn’t it be zero if the tumor was removed. I’m confused.

Camprunamuk

I keep seeing folks say inflammation can elevate the CA 27-29 tumor marker test results, which leads me to believe any inflammation causing autoimmune disorder could elevate it.

Anyone know if this correct? Because lots of folks say inflammation can, but cannot find a single study to back it up... I would desperately like to know as I have inflammation causing Autoimmune disorders and elevate markers. This elevation (38-42) has effected treatments for me costing thousands over the years. Anyone have any studies to point me to?

Thank you!

JoE777

I had high inflammation count before my new DX.

Imagine

SpecialK. I just had my CA15-3 go up to 32.1 and my lab range is 0-25. I am so concerned. MO office makes it hard to get in touch until my appointment on Wednesday. They have never gone over the 25 range so I am so worried. Where can I get information on how inflammation can effect test results. I have had a terrible bout of arthritis in my foot and I am hoping against hope that it is that and not something else. I am 11 years out from my DX with stage 11a IDC. I have been so fortunate so far, now this..