tumor markers
Hi my name is Laura, my husband Mike was diagnosed last year in January, IDC,4cm,ER+PR+,her2 neg ,4 sentinal nodes all neg. After 5 rounds of chemo 3 weeks apart of Taxotere and Cytoxan, Now Tamoxifin. He is 46. He know for sure he had the lump for a least 18 months but thought it was an injury and never dreamed it was cancer. We have been married 25 years, have 4 kids.1 married with 2 kids,( adorable grand kids they are) I daughter living on her own in the big city. 2 beautiful girls who are 12 and 14. We are closer than we have ever been,and I am so amazed by how he has done with all of this. Our love and faith are stronger than ever before.
Anyway, his tumor markers were 41 6 weeks ago and now they are 46, I know this is just ouside the normal range, but I am freaking out. Oncologist will call on Monday, I hate the waiting.I try to stay positive for him, and try not to let him know that I am worried, I just thought I would look and found this site. Any one have any ideas.. His chest CT in early dec was good, he also had a clean bone scan then. Any ?? we should ask our onc?
Comments
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What a lovely post on your marriage, Mikeswife, in the face of disease. Such a testament to you and Mike. I'm sorry for his diagnosis, and bet many a man would think a lump near/in the breast may be injury related. Just now men are beginning to hear and become more aware that breast cancer can afflict them too.
To address the tumor marker, I presume it's the CA 27-29 tumor marker as it has a higher upper normal limit than than the CA 15. As you said, these markers are known to fluctuate slightly, and even between tests. It's the trend that helps guide you and your oncologists. A doubling is considered serious to repeat within two weeks for confirmation and start thinking scans. Your husband's values have risen albeit lower, and not doubled.
I'm glad your personal oncologist will call on Monday and advise you both on this matter. I just wanted to respond a little. You are such a supportive wife, he is so fortunate to have you and your family. I wish you all well, and hope you'll post back with an update should you desire to do so.
All the best to you and Mike and family,
Tender
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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
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Hi
Thanks for your support, actually the Onc did not call us back, but we have decided to just wait and not be anxious, if there was anything that worrisome I am sure she would have called. His next check up isn't that far off. Do any of you taking tamoxifen have problems with swelling, his feet and legs swell up pretty bad. Our Dr. gave him a water type pill, but he doesn't like going all the time.
Blessings
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Mikeswife,
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.
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Thanks Larry,
I guess we never even considered the swelling was anything but the Tamoxifen, since they started swelling just after beginning the medication. Our onc nurse told us that was common, I think that we also became so bc focused that we did not ask about anything else..humm may have to check it out further.
Blessings
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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
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Rarebird,
The researchers working in the area of hormonal therapy for breast cancer have never tested an AI in men and they have no idea if AIs would be effective in men. Therefore, my medical oncologist prescribed tamoxifen for me.
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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
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I am not sure why he choose that and not the other, (our old onc. just made recommendations and we did what he said) Everything moved super fast, and our heads were swimming with all the information. I am glad that I was able to go with to every appoinment and learn so much. We have a new oncolgist now ( whom we both like much better), she is better at explaining everything, in more detail.
Larry, did you have radiation? Mike didn't and sometimes I wonder why not, I am glad he didn't have to but wonder if he should have.
Bird, his last treatment was around May, so I wouldn't think that was still the cause.
Thanks guys,
Laura
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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
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Hi Laura - I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, had a mastectomy, then chemo, and have done well ever since.
In general, people with BC (both men and women) have a lumpectomy and radiation, or a mastectomy without radiation. But a mastectomy will be followed by radiation if there are several positive nodes, the tumor was attached to the chest wall, or other specific reasons.
Since most men have a mastectomy, it's more common for men NOT to have radiation.
Hope this helps,
Bob
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I chose a lumpectomy so I had radiation.
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His tumor,4cm, 4 sentinel nodes were clear, so he had a mastectomy, he does have some trouble with lympodema, and goes to therapy, this has helped some.
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Well, markers are up again. Pet scan this week, scared and teary, I will let you know how it goes.
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