did anyones cancer markers not go down after chemo

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tammyintexas
tammyintexas Member Posts: 13
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

hi,

i have had for dose dence ac followed by one taxol, i had to be taken off taxol because of bad reaction, after that they checked my markers and they have only came down one point.  I started at a 37 and now its still a 36.  i have started taxotere and have had 2 treaments, only one more to go then radiation.  But my markers not going down is really freaking me out.  has anyone else experienced this?

thank you,

tammy

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited January 2009

    What they told me was your markers may not go down while on chemo for early disease, but when you stop chemo they should drop.  (This is different for ladies with mets)  Mine did react this way...the few times I have been able to stop chemo.  That is why your doctor will tell you tumor markers don't tell them anything with early disease.  That doesn't stop me from watching!

    At the bottom of my blood report from my clinic says not to use this number unless you have mets.

    Flalady

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  • ejlj
    ejlj Member Posts: 211
    edited January 2009

    hi tammy,  my tumor markers have never been 0.  they seem to have fluctuated up and down throughout neo treatment of herceptin/taxol, but generally trended down.  I then had surgery, and AC, 2 weeks after AC the nurse practioner checked them (as a favor) and they had skyrocketed.  very unsettling! i had a chest ct at that time, as i was starting an infection and it was clear?!?!  My onc said he never would have checked them at that time as it was too close to treatment.  i haven't had them checked since then in october and i'm not asking when they'll be checked again.  in fact i told them not to tell me.  the numbers drive me crazy and who knows what it all really means.  i've decided to let them worry about it and they'll le me know if i need to know.  good luck  tina

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  • walstib123
    walstib123 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2009

    Hi Tammy,

    I just went through the whole tumor marker thing and this is how I understand it:  For CA 27.25 (if this is what they checked for you?) anything below 40 is normal so you should not fret the 37/36 thing too much.  Mine were elevated to the 80s before neoadjuvant chemo and now they are in the 20s.  My doctor said he will monitor them as we move forward but they are not the tell all.  Hope this helps.  Good luck and try not to worry :)

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  • janinvan
    janinvan Member Posts: 83
    edited January 2009

    Tammy, (in a hurry right now)....

    Your markers might go down more soon/eventually...I think it "accumulates/improves".

    During my 6 Docetaxol -- it went down from 60 ......then 3/4 of the way went "up 1 " to about 39.... about 30 something before radiation---.then finally 26  about 2 months after rad.!!

    They "say" the marker isn't a standard...BUT it has been very significant!!   ??    Janice

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  • kelty
    kelty Member Posts: 80
    edited January 2009

    My Onc said they are not reliable and won't do that for me at all.

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  • VickiG
    VickiG Member Posts: 536
    edited January 2009

    My onc does not check them because she says they are not reliable for bc.  She does them for other types of cancer, but not us ~ she'd ck if I asked, but never have.  Hmmmmm, makes me curious what mine even are.

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  • tammyintexas
    tammyintexas Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2009

    Thanks everyone, I was just worried because I was sitting and chatting to a women who said that she started out in the upper 50's and she was so happy that after only 3 treaments heres were down drastically and here doc said she was responding to her chemo great.  well I started out and have only dropped one point, ive had a rough time with chemo and it just scared me.  thanks for all the input.  This is one scary road we are on!

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited January 2009

    Vicki,

    Not checking??? They do mine weekly with skin mets. I really surprised they are not tracking yours.  I know it's not everything but it one more tool. I met a lady the other day that was up to 3,000 with bone,liver & lung mets.  My highest was a few months ago 112 I'm down to 60?  My does go up and down even with my skin mets only.  They are always watching for other mets for me. I did get down to 18 during all this.

    Flalady

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  • janinvan
    janinvan Member Posts: 83
    edited January 2009

    Tammy, re blood tumor marker (called CA 15-3 in Canada -but similar numbers- I've heard), --

    I think that in the future they will probably have more info/statistics about it!

    I wonder if it correlates more to triple neg patients.  ??

    We, (non-medical), don't really know about it .... FLALADY refers to the number reducing more AFTER chemo for early disease. I think that's correct. I wish a Dr./oncologist would have reassured me about this at the time.

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  • VickiG
    VickiG Member Posts: 536
    edited January 2009

    Hmmmm.... now I'll definitely have her start checking them.  Thanks Flalady!!!!

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