Tumor Marker Tests

Patsy,  My onc does not believe in tumor markers.  He thinks they are misleading and unreliable because they are often elevated for reasons that have nothing to do with cancer.   I know this is true because my sister's onc does them on her f/u visits and hers have been high twice but the reasons were from other medical issues that had nothing to do with her BC.   I have not pushed to have them done after seeing the way her's have done and how much she worries about the test being high until they can confirm it is not a recurrence.   I think the test is very flawed.  Another friend has had them done annually and they did not test high when she had mets.  These are the reasons I have no faith in this particular test.   I think if someone wants to have them done that is fine but I would not put much faith or worry in the results.   Hopefully some others will come along soon and answer your question about the numbers--for I truly don't know about that.  Hope you do not find this posting discouraging but all I can do is give my opinion.  Good luck with all,  Ginny

The tumor marker tests are ALL my onc does as follow up! No scans or anything unless I have some definitive symptoms. Kind of scarees me! I will have my first one in 2 weeks.

i have had CA27.29 done every 6 months along with chemistry for blood work.  i stopped having scans (PET/CT) about 4 years ago.  (the CA27.29 is similar to the CA15-3)  my tumor markers have ranged from 32 (during treatment) to 14, 16, 20, and the last few times 22.  for me, i like having the tumor marker done..i like to see what is going on there.  at this point, after 9 years...i pretty much go by "how i feel"  or if i feel any lumps where there are not supposed to be, still get mammo each year. and i still i think important to do liver enzymes...etc. 

for me, my idea of all of this now is....if my cancer comes back; eventually i will know it...either by symptoms or blood work.  until then, feeling good...and enjoying each day* keep on**

 hugs to all

diana*

My oncologist does the tumor markers and other blood work only, no scans unless I have symptoms.  My tumor marker was 20 before I had surgery. I actually have no idea what it has been other times.  I have had the test again but it is not on my chart, which I love to read while getting Herceptin because I am crazy in this way. I like to read stuff then go home and look it up on the internet, very interesting.

Never had one, my dr doesn't like them...says it can give you false positives and make us worry for nothing.  She says she trust me and my symptoms more than them...she does know I'm a paranoid freak-a-zoid, right?

After my lumpectomy and Mammosite rads last August, my CA 27.29 was 34.  In January it rose to 39.  In March it was at 64. In the meantime, I developed a complex lesion/seroma almost overnight in February that turned out to be about a 5 cm recurrence along with at least 4 nodes involved!  And oh, my CEA was 0.8.  For me the CA 27.29 was certainly providing a clue.   I will certainly insist upon this test in the future, as it was indicative of trouble brewing; although with that 34, I wonder if there wasn't still cancer  present at the time.

Michelle

My onc does them, but they are notoriously unreliable.   Many oncs don't do them for this reason.