Does above normal tumor marker = mets?

annapc
annapc Member Posts: 10
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I am still new to all of this...  I saw the Onc for the first time last week... scheduled to begin CMF Chemo this Thursday.  Then yesterday I get a call from Onc. nurse to say my tumor marker is 38, when 36 is normal.  I have a full body CT PET scan tomorrow.  

But...  Does the fact it is elevated mean it has spread?  Or just that there are cells floating around looking for a home?

I am stage 1, caught it early etc.  so I thought it was going to be not much fun, but at least pretty straightforward.  I asked the nurse how unusual it was for something as early as mine to have spread, she said it is unusual but not unheard of.  Ugh. 

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  • pinkribbons2
    pinkribbons2 Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2011

    anna, i'm definitely no expert on tumor markers, but i immediately googled this once i read your post.  From what I've read anything under 40 is considered normal.  You're in stage 1 which is a good thing.  Hopefully someone with more experience in tumor markers can give you a better idea.  I just know that you're worried....anxiety is one of the things that goes hand in hand with breast cancer.  The fact that you're having scans tomorrow will hopefully put your mind at ease.  I'm praying for great results for you!  Take care and please keep us updated :)

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  • nancyh
    nancyh Member Posts: 2,644
    edited January 2011

    I wouldn't worry too much, usually when tumor markers are elevated, they are off the charts (like in the 100's).  Tumor markers are a notoriously lousy tool, some oncologists don't even use them since they can be elevated for reasons other than cancer or can be completely normal in patients who have a lot of active cancer.  Best of luck, hope your scan results are good!

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  • lrr4993
    lrr4993 Member Posts: 937
    edited January 2011

    Ditto what nancy said.  I asked my onco about them early on and she said she does not test them because they are very unreliable . . . often low when there is a lot of active cancer and high when there isn't.

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  • nikola
    nikola Member Posts: 466
    edited January 2011

    I asked my onco and got same answer as Irr, not reliable. I just saw him today and had BW done but tumor markers were not checked.

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited January 2011

    My medical lab uses the number 38 as the upper normal limit.  Mine usually run high, too, almost always between 30 and 35.

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  • annapc
    annapc Member Posts: 10
    edited January 2011

    UPDATE--Scans were clear.  Phew

    And in case anyone stumbles on this thread and wonders the same thing I did...My Onc confirmed that tumor markers do NOT always indicate mets.  And that 38 isn't really that high.  She just had me do the CT/PET out of an abundance of caution. 

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