Tumor Marker question

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cagio1
cagio1 Member Posts: 23
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi... need some help

Just finished chemo in december and started rads.  My doctor ran another tumor marker test last week and while the number is in the "normal range", I am concerned for two reasons:  first- why is anything coming up at all since I just finished chemo and 2- the number went from 16 to 25.  It seems to me the number is going the wrong way???  I tried to speak with the doctor and he sent a message through the nurse that "as long as it is in normal range, it is fine".  Not very comforting.  DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TUMOR MARKERS???

 Thanks

Chris

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  • pj12
    pj12 Member Posts: 25,402
    edited January 2010

    This is what I THINK... 1. Everyone would show some CA 15-3 as it is a protein created in normal breast tissue.  2. When there is a malignant tumor it sheds more of the CA 15-3 protein so numbers can (but not always) go up. When you are in active treatment, numbers can go up, as well as for other reasons like infections unrelated to cancer.

    Tumor markers are not considered very reliable.  Lots of doctors don't do them. But, if they do, they are just a small part of your total picture.  My onc does them and I am glad but take them with a grain of salt.

    Wishing you the best. 

    pam 

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited January 2010

    from my conversations with my onc; tumor markers are used to watch trends. my onc doesn't get excited if my tumor markers go up and down ...within normal limits.... she told me once; if the marker jumps into abnormal range...and jumps 20_+ then you revisit. however. sometimes they will even wait a week or two and take them again to see what they are doing.  my marker has been down to 10 and up to 25 (CA27.29) it was elevated during chemo but that is because the chemo "stirs" up the proteins. but after things settle...they came back down. i get my marker done every 6 months...and have the last 7 and half years. my onc is looking for trends. it is all very hard to get used to but it sounds like you are ok in the tumor marker area.

    hang in there

    diana50

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited January 2010

    Chris--the biggest bit of info you need is what the tumor marker was after you were diagnosed but BEFORE you started treatment.  Tumor markers are only helpful if you know what the number was BEFORE treatment.  Only about half of people with cancer have elevated turmor markers. If you had a high tumor marker before treatment, and it is now in the normal range, that's a good thing.  If you didn't have a turmor marker test before treatment, the information is meaningless.  Not to add to your anxiety, but if the marker wasn't elevated before treatment, it won't elevate after treatment  even if there is a recurrence. 

    Even the PSA marker isn't totally reliable.  Some men get prostate cancer and their PSA never goes above normal.  Many men have elevated PSAs but don't have prostate cancer.   Tumor markers are a tool, but like any tool, they have to be used correctly to be of use and not cause damage.  

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