Tumor markers

echo-on-the-lake · February 2011

Hi

I was wondering if anyone has their tumor markers checked every few months or so. My oncologist doesn't like to do them as she says they are not reliable for someone who does not have metastatic breast cancer. I insist that she run the test anyway because I want to keep track of things.

My concern is that after my surgery, before I started any chemo, my tumor markers were at "8". I would have thought that after chemo, that number would drop, but it did the opposite. Every 3 months, starting after finishing chemo, that number has been going up--even though it's still within the limit of "40". (I'm due for another blood workup on Feb 11th) The rest of my blood counts are within normal range, except for one month when a couple went slightly over the norm. But they dropped down just at or under the normal range last Oct. However, my tumor markers went up more. I'm now at 24. (Seems to go up 8 each time). I'm getting a little nervous because they don't even stay at one level for a period of time.

Can't seem to find much info on this. Is anyone else experiencing this situation with their tumor markers? Has a constant rise in them lead to the cancer metastasizing?

MicheleS · February 2011

Mine "bump around" too. I think that lots of outside factors can contribute to tuor markers in your blood--- specifically anything that affects your liver. So long as you stay within the "normal" range, I would try not to worry. Easier said than done!

LRM216 · February 2011

Me too! Before surgery mine was 30. Then the two taken after chemo were both 11 - my last one was 16 and I freaked!!! My onc said not to worry about it all. Hope she's not lying!!!! I go again in March, so she will take them again with the next 3 month blood work. She said everyone's fluctuates, a cold, sinus infection, etc. can raise them. I'm trusting her, because if I don't ....... well, you know - only too well!

lrr4993 · February 2011

I don't know much about tumor markers, so sorry if this is a stupid question: how does a cold, sinus infection, etc. affect tumor markers?

bevin · February 2011

Hi, My Onco runs them monthly, and will move to quarterly. I dont know what the numbers mean, mine have been at 19 for awhile. Below the 35 cut off. He seems not worried about anything and stated they only become concerned when they see a pattern of continued rise in the numbers. Hope that helps.

LRM216 · February 2011

IRR:

Any type of inflammation can cause them to rise - with a cold or sinus problems there is inflammation - sore muscles, etc.

echo-on-the-lake · February 2011

Thanks everyone for the replies.

@LRM216---your situation seems to be a lot better than mine. At least your counts are going down. Mine was low BEFORE the chemo and has risen every 3 months since. That's what has me worried. Have never had them go down or even stay the same from one 3 month period to another. They also are climbing, not by a couple, but by 6-10 each time (each time it has increased by 2). If that holds true for this workup, I'll be at 36---not far from that 'norm' level.

@bevin --interesting that the cutoff point you have is '35'. I know there are different type tests that are used. Perhaps that lab used a different one than mine and that would account for the difference in numbers.

Wish that some of the gals whose cancer metastasized would comment. I'm also now starting to have pain on my rib cage on the same side as where the tumor was. It started about 2 wks ago and comes and goes. Yesterday I had a very sharp pain in that area and it has been sore ever since. Bone mets?

For anyone that is interested in finding out what each thing means on your blood work (both CBC and Comp Metabolic Panel), check out this site: (for CBC) http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cbc/test.htm, and for the Comp Metabolic Panel: http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cmp/glance.html

FATPAT · February 2011

I have had chemo only, no surgery nor radiation. My tumor has gone away. My chemo doc wants me to have the tumor marker (CA 15.3) every two months for two years. My oncologist doesn't think they are reliable either, but I am like you, I want to see what's going on, plus it's a lot cheaper for me. I live outside the USA and have no insurance. I just had first test in January and will go back in March. According to the results, normal is 0-58 and mine was 39, so it's within normal range. I don't understand what the numbers mean, but I feel good about normal! Best to you, hope you'll be OK. Re: rib pain, if it's on the right side, make sure you don't have gall bladder issues.

Beagleandme · February 2011

To echo-on-the-lake, My cancer was metastatic and I am now 5 and 1/2 years cancer free. My doctor does a tumor marker on me every three months. I don't worry a lot about my tumor marker because when I had cancer, my tumor marker was twenty-four. When I was going through chemo, my tumor marker jumped around so much and one time, it was 78. I about panicked! It turned out to just be inflamation from everything my body was going through with treatment. Since I finished my treatment, my tumor marker always jumps around but stays within normal limits. I have had it at 32 before and then turn around six months later and it's at 26. My doctor always told me that a tumor marker can jump for many reasons. I guess my point is, try not to worry too much about it because a tumor marker doesn't tell you much. It's not really reliable to know what's going on. I always went by what my scans said instead of what my tumor marker said. I hope everyone is having a good day today Smile

Fighter_34 · February 2011

Sorry if my question sounds dumb, but are Tumor Markers measured via blood draw? My Dr. mentioned this at my last fusion appt. We will see.

LRM216 · March 2011

Fighter_34:

Yes, it's a blood draw. She does mine when she does all my blood workups every 3 months.

Anonymous · March 2011

Forgive, perhaps a stupid comment, but I have been Goggling cancer markers (CA15-3) and it claims that the "marker" is tumor castoffs, so how could anything other than a tumor be causing the negative readings?

Mine was around 25 when first DX with stage 3 - grade 9 TNBC, then it dropped, a few months ago it was in the low 20's, next time, in the 30's (up 50%) however my Onc failed to inform me regarding the first elevation, my PCP's nurse "assumed" I knew when he mentioned my PCP was alarmed about it going fast.

My Onc has ignored the sever pain I have been having, of late, in my spine, ("not his field") or the strange CT and PET results, ("don't know" not a radiologist), or the lump in my chest and leg, and swelling under my arm ("maybe on of your other doctors can figure it out").

Needless to say with my elevated marker, coupled with "activity" in my scans, I am trying to get my insurance to allow for a second opinion, that they are refusing.

Anonymous · March 2011

MI: Oncs are so different aren't they? Mine didn't even want to do tumor marker testing AT ALL after treatment. I had to ask for it and also get a second opinion. The 2nd doctor says normal is anything under 37. Mine jumps around though so don't be afraid. What is weird is that the first onc said even someone with mets to the bones can have a low score like an 18. She relies on if we have "symptoms", which doesn't make any sense. I had no "symptoms" in the first place !! I give up.

Tumor markers

Comments

Categories