tumor markers

Mikeswife - I just wanted to say your husband is a very fortunate man.  I know this because I was diagnosed in 11/08 at the age of 45 and I couldn't have done it without my wonderful husband.  I remember when I was diagnosed I apologized to him.  He said why are you apologizing, it's not your fault.  I told him I felt like we had a plan for our lives and this wasn't in the plan - like who actually plans for something like this.  I will say that his support has taught me what love and marriage is all about. 

Hope everything is O.K.  Keep us posted.

Sue

I took tamoxifen for 5 years and did not notice any swelling in my legs. Could your husband have another cause of this symptom?

My cancer doctors take annual CA27-29 tests on me. I don't know what my levels are, I've never asked. These markers are not that accurate but my doctors would use these results as a piece of evidence. Should I develop symptoms which might be cancer, then they would use the marker levels as a piece of evidence in deciding whether or not cancer was likely. Since your husband has no symptoms which might be cancer and his other tests are negative, I think it is very unlikely that the slight change in his tumor marker levels mean anything.

Laura--

I had six rounds of the TCH chemotherapy where the T is Taxotere , the same drug  you report Mike was given along with Cytoxan.  After about the 4th round of Taxotere I began to suffer badly from edema in my legs and feet and was told that the Taxotere caused the problem.  The good thing is that I have now about completely recovered from the edema.  My last Taxotere infusion was about 14 weeks ago so perhaps Mike will also see a lessening of his edema the further he gets along from his last Taxotere treatment. 

I am not on any hormonal treatment yet, including Tamoxifen, but I am not expecting the edema to return when I do start the hormonal treatment in a few weeks after I finish with the radiation treatments I am now getting.I have not read that Tamoxifen causes edema, so I am guessing that Mikes edema problably is due to the Taxotere and that he should look forward to recovering from it.

Could you tell me why Mike's oncologist put him on the Tamoxifen instead of one of the aromatase inhibitors like Arimidex? Mine is recommending an AI and I have to make that choice soon for myself.

Good luck---

bird

Larry--

 I too have learned that there is not much information published on how well AIs work for men, although there are a few doctors who have written that they do not believe the AIs are appropriate for men. Interestingly, the stuies that have been done on the effectiveness of AIs seem to all compare them to Tamoxifen,but those studies were done almost entirely on females, for obvious reasions. At any rate, I am expecting a interesting discussion on this matter when I meet with my medical oncologist next month. 

On another note,I have read on this board and elsewhere that it appears that people who have most amounts of the CYP2D6 enzyme in their livers are best able to metabolize Tamoxifen  into the more reactive form Endoxifen.  I think these people are called high metabolizers.  There is a test for the CYP2D6 enzyme, so both males and females can now get a feeling of their metabolizer potential with regard to Tamoxifen.

Thanks.

bird

Laura--

Yes, last May is a long time to elapse post chemo and the swelling still being present.  Mine is so much better now after 3 months that I am not complaining about the small amount that remains.  Perhaps it won't ever go away completely.  

I also note that some men apparently get radiation and other's don't. And some get lumpectomies and some get mastectomies.  I suppose it depends a lot on the personal experience of the doctors making the recommendations since there is just not real comprehensive clinical data on what works best for male breast cancer.  In my case I am getting the radiation now, but my doctor is very cautious.

bird

I chose a lumpectomy so I had radiation.