ca 27 29 tests

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Barbie3333
Barbie3333 Member Posts: 7
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

First of all I do not like having the oncologist that is assigned to me.  No choice.  Had breast cancer - I feel fine, no lumps or masses, but my ca 27 29 is rising.  I just had a hysterectomy and now experiencing tietze syndrome.  I quit Arimidex 7/1/10.

This oncologist is wanting me now to go and take scans.  (He wants to know what kind I want - .....what do I know, why doesn't he know?)

Anyway.....Are there any reasons your ca 27 29 would rise and is it a reliable test to start spending hundreds of dollars because of it?  Also - If I am intent on No chemotherapy the 2nd time around, is that an automatic death sentence?  (when I told this guy no chemo, he replied, "we'll see"

At what number do I worry on the ca 27 29 test?

Thanks for any imput you may have

Barb

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited March 2011

    They are not reliable in many cases.  There are gals that have unfortunately gone on to Stage IV and their tumor markes never left the normal range.  When they do rise, the onc usually will look for a pattern, i.e., if it continues to rise, then they would want to do scans to see if anything lights up on the scans indicating a recurrence.  So a lot would depend on how high it rose and if it shows a rise in the last couple or three tests.  That is what my oncologist explained to me, as she tests me every three months and should they rise, or even if they don't but I present with symptoms of something to her, she would then schedule a CT, PET, MRI and bone scan, or any combo of those tests.  I wish you well and that all will prove to be nothing cancer related.

    Linda

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  • ango74
    ango74 Member Posts: 255
    edited March 2011

    Barbie, I am proof these marker are crapola.  They check mine because I was in a study, mine have been very normal and actually lower than usually this last time.  And I was just diagnosised with mets.  I'm not sure why they even bother checking them. At one time mine were really high and there were no mets.  The markers are totally unreliable.

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  • Barbie3333
    Barbie3333 Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2011

    Thanks for your imput.  That is what I am reading in research on the computer.  In my original post I explained what medical conditions I having been going through one right after another.  And all three could very well explain why they are rising.   In this guy's mind - storm the torpedos. In my mind the war is over.

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  • Barbie3333
    Barbie3333 Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2011

    You are very kind and I wish you well, also

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  • Barbie3333
    Barbie3333 Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2011

    Thanks for the posts and giving me a feeling that I'm not alone.  People do not understand what you are going through, nor do I want to submit them to really understanding.  It's true, life is too short.  I went through 3 years of fear - worry - and anxiety.  I went through one year of mentally recovering and finding joy and literally seeing myself old.....and now they want to drag me back into that fear, worry and anxiety life.  These people do not offer any encouragement in their office visits.  It's not that I am "that" sick, who knows, I may be absolutely the healthy kid on the block - but they have to control you with this fear so that you are in their office every month.  I can't go through that anymore.  Sorry if I am getting fretful - it's just that now - I actually laugh and have joy and I want that more than I want longivity of fear. 

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  • Barbie3333
    Barbie3333 Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2011

    I am sorry that you were just diagnosed Ango - after what all you have been through, my hats off to you.  I would want to run too, in fact I am doing that now, but you are strong and going to take it on like a trooper.  I don't have children that are young so you can sometimes have a different attitude.

    Calmed down now from yesterday.  Disconnected my phone from voice message.  They can't get ahold of me now.  AFter 3 years of surgery/chemo/rads/arimidex (alergic to dex) but they still scared me into keep taking it.  Lost my ears - the ringing in them due to alergic reaction and inflammation for 2 years have totally destroyed them.  Quit taking it.  The chemical that I was alergic to totally destroyed my uterus - all female organs were removed. 

    I literally had just one year where they didn't do something to me.  I began to heal emotionally.  I understand the running part. 

    My hats off to you.....you are strong - you are woman!!

    With all my heart and reverance, I have given all to God.  Very proud of your strength and I am cheering you on.  

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

    Barbie, I think inflammation can be one reason markers can rise.

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  • Barbie3333
    Barbie3333 Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2011

    Weety, I believe that with all my heart.  Tietze Syndrone has ALL the symtoms of Breast cancer too.  But I can not think upon the worse or allow anyone to bully me into expensive tests until I am well of tietze.  Then, I will consider all avenues. 

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