CONCERNED ABOUT TUMOR MARKER

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traceyz
traceyz Member Posts: 745
edited February 2015 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

OK SISTERS WENT TO THE DOCTOR TODAY AND MY ONC SAID THAT MY BLOOD FROM 3 MONTHS AGO WAS NORMAL. SHE SAID THAT MY TUMOR MARKER WAS 32! THIS CONCERNED ME BECAUSE THIS YEAR IT HAS BEEN 29,28,29 AND NOW ITS 32!!!  SHE SAID SHE IS NOT WORRIED BECAUSE IT IS STILL BELOW 38. I DID ANOTHER CA 27 MARKER TEST TODAY AND WONT GET THE RESULTS TIL NEXT WEEK. SHOULD I BE WORRIED?? MY ONC SAYS NO BUT I DONT KNOW........

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited August 2010

    Hi Tracey 

    I am in same boat as you! It sounds like you are having the CA 15-3 or CA 29-9. I had mine done l3 weeks ago and it has gone from 17 to 20 and on my test the reference range is 0-25 whereas on yours it's probably 0-38. Either way I hate it because it has jumped and is now on the higher end of normal. My ONC poohed poohed it and said normal range is normal range but its the upward trend that bothers me. I went back to Onc #2 for regular f/u today and he didn't even think we needed to repeat it and I didn't press as I just didn't really want to stress about it right now. The bottom line is what he said Normal range is Normal range and many many things can throw off values.  I have worked in diagnostics forever and it is true that our body fluctuates each day and values can go up and down. I am sure that wont' make you feel much better  as I am stressing too.

    Let me know what you find out and I will for you as well. 

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  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 1,151
    edited August 2010

    Tracey and mmm5: Although I agree that "normal is normal," I know that I'd also be stressing if mine trended upward. Solved this problem for myself by NOT getting reports on this number unless it indicates a problem that requires further study. Yes, I understand that denial may not be the most "take charge" approach, but I tend to worry about coughs, headaches, backaches, etc., so sticking my head in the sand regarding this possible source of stress works for me!

    I'm sure that you're right, mm5, and these minor fluctuations are perfectly normal. Ah, cancer, the gift that just keeps on giving even when our oncs tell us not to worry.

    Best wishes to both of you.

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited August 2010

    Sue

    I have to agree with you, most ladies I speak to either do not have this test done or don't get results unless they need to. After this little excursion I will probably adopt the same practice.

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  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 1,151
    edited August 2010

    I know - my good friend was dx about 6 months before me and goes to the same onc. She didn't even KNOW about tumor markers until I told her. She asked Dr. R about it the last time she saw him, and he assured her that all was well and he'd let her know if she needed to worry. I felt bad about giving her another thing to stress about.

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  • traceyz
    traceyz Member Posts: 745
    edited August 2010

    MMM, THANKS SO MUCH FOR RESPONDING. EVERYONE KEEPS TELLING ME NOT TO WORRY BUT OF COURSE IT GOES IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER. IM GLAD YOU UNDESTAND AND ACTUALLY YOUR POST MADE ME FEEL A LITTLE BETTER KNOWING THAT YOUR DOC BASICALLY TOLD YOU THE SAME THING AS MINE. I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED AND PLEASE DO THE SAME.

    SUE, GREAT IDEA! AFTER THIS I WILL ONLY BE ASKING IF THE NUMBER IS NORMAL GIRLFRIEND! I WILL NOT BE ASKING FOR THE ACTUAL NUMBER MY FRIEND. THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY.

    THANKS SO MUCH BOTH OF YOU!!

    TRACEY

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  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 1,151
    edited August 2010

    Sleep well!

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  • imblessed2
    imblessed2 Member Posts: 69
    edited September 2010

    OK, dumb ? coming your way...what is a 'cancer marker'?  I'm presuming that a blood test with a normal and abnormal range?  So then, what are the ranges?  Thanks, ladies:)

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  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 1,151
    edited September 2010

    imblessed2: This is from the bc.org information page:

    Your doctor may order blood tests for cancer/tumor markers to detect cancer activity in the body. Proteins and circulating tumor cells are two types of markers that can be measured. A cancer tumor often produces a specific protein in the blood that serves as a marker for the cancer. Circulating tumor cells are cells that break off from the cancer and move into the blood stream. Protein markers and circulating tumor cells can be measured with simple blood tests.



    Blood marker tests may be done before treatment, to help diagnose the breast cancer and determine whether it's moved to other parts of the body; during treatment, to assess whether the cancer is responding; and after treatment, to see if the cancer has come back (recurrence).







    Examples of your doctor may test for include:



    CA 15.3: used to find breast and ovarian cancers

    TRU-QUANT and CA 27.29: may mean that breast cancer is present

    CA125: may signal ovarian cancer, ovarian cancer recurrence, and breast cancer recurrence

    CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen): a marker for the presence of colon, lung, and liver cancers. This marker may be used to determine if the breast cancer has traveled to other areas of the body.

    Circulating tumor cells: cells that break off from the cancer and move into the blood stream. High circulating tumor cell counts may indicate that the cancer is growing. The CellSearch test has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to monitor circulating tumor cells in women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

    Some doctors use marker test results as early indicators of breast cancer progression (the cancer getting worse) or recurrence. They may use this information to make decisions about when to change therapies — if current treatment does not appear to be working — or to start treatment for recurrence. If you have an elevated marker, your doctor may check that marker periodically to assess your response to chemotherapy or other treatments.



    While breast cancer blood marker tests are promising, they're not absolutely conclusive. When a breast cancer blood marker test comes back negative, it doesn't necessarily mean you're free and clear of breast cancer. And a positive result doesn't always mean that the cancer is growing. These tests may help with diagnosis, but using cancer marker tests to find metastatic breast cancer hasn't helped improve survival yet.



    When deciding if you should get tested for breast cancer blood markers, there are some things you may want to consider:



    cost — the tests can be expensive

    anxiety — not just from an elevated blood marker, but by all the tests you may need to find out what's causing the marker to go up

    Talk to your doctor about the possible benefits and risks of blood marker testing in your unique situation.

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  • ginger_mea
    ginger_mea Member Posts: 264
    edited February 2015

    I am at the 4th year of my diagnosis.  I had my 6 month check up and blood work up at my ONC two months ago.  My tumor markers and liver were elevated, the Dr. wanted me to come back in two months for a re-check don't take Tylenol, Advil etc. for about a week before so I didn't.  Well I got a call back the test was inconclusive and she wants me back to do further blood testing TRU QUANT, well now I am nervous.  Anyone ever have this happen???

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  • moni731
    moni731 Member Posts: 293
    edited February 2015

    Same here. Following TM's for 4 years now. always low 20's; last year 30, 48, now 53. Have not seen the MO for 18 mos, but now my PCP wants me to go back. I am somewhat conflicted, as I will not have further tx for ca, I am not sure I want to pursue this. Basically I just want to know how much time I have if it has returned. I feel that since the trending is indeed climbing, it is very slow. My recurrance guestimate is 30
    + %, so not surprised. Always figured when not if. So far I feel okay. I am interested in others actually numbers if you don't mind sharing, and if you recurred what the numbers were. Thanks

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  • car2tenn
    car2tenn Member Posts: 515
    edited February 2015

    I was dx in Dec 13 and have had less than a 14 month run with Arimidex...I got a call yesterday from Dr. and my markers are up. They were last done 6 months ago...I have to go for a Pet scan soon and the meds will change...I am very disappointed but feel well and have every intention of doing whatever this physician recommends...Who knows the next estrogen blockade could work better. Carolyn in Music City

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  • freebird53
    freebird53 Member Posts: 166
    edited February 2015

    Question:...What are the 2 names of the tumor markers that OC's track while having Stage IV Bone Mets/Liver...Please tell me...I'm sorry I was blind sided today with numbers...I need to know what each of them mean...ASAP...I am going crazy right now...sorry...explain after someone tells me them...and what each of your numbers are...

    Thank you

    Carla

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