MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Okay!  I don't want to sound stupid or anything but I keep reading posts about "tumor markers."  What are they?  Is this something I should be asking about?  My MO never mentioned this.

Thanks BarbaraA, for the resurrance. I am going to think positive and not worry about it for now.

Thanks MA111, for the information and sorry to hear you are progressing. God Bless you.

Thanks Elimer, trying not to stress out, this is the first time a marker was elevated for me.

my onc has never mentioned tham either... iv yet to have a "normal" check up appt... maybe in june i will ask her if she does them...

I havent made the appt yet lol... but probably the beginning to mid june.. we are supossed to leave for the beach on the 20th so i want to gether and the breast surgeon out of the way before i go because when i come back i have to get ready for surgery again...

Eli - I was early stage hormone receptor positive, stage 1A, Grade 2 so many he does not do them.  Think I am gonna ask anyway just to see what he says about them.

GmaFoley - My path report showed the grade but not the stage.  How my onc determined the Stage, I do not know.  It did show ER/PR & HER2 numbers which he explained to me and what they meant.  I am assuming, based on that information, he was able to tell me I would not meed chemo.  This was before surgery and before I had found out I had negative nodes.  I have learned that each onc does things differently and you may read others with varing stories.  It is best to talk to your onc and find out what he/she says.    

My oncologist at Sloan said that they do tumor markers for all women who had invasive breast cancer, however I had to ask @ my first visit and then he said "oh yes we will". I just love that MSK has a patient portal and I can go online and see my lab work and I can e-mail my BS. I wish that were true for all my Dr's.

I am packing up and getting prepared to make the 1300 mile move home in just 3 weeks. I have one more visit with my BS and my bone scan and if all is clear I am done until August. I have decided that I will come back to NY for my follow ups because I don't want to change Dr's. I will if I ever decide to have a DIEP because then I won't have to be monitored every 6 months. It's funny because now my friends and some of my family say enough with the biopsies just do it already but I still feel so reluctant and yet I feel I am always waiting for the proverbial other shoe (or in this case boob) to drop. I just want a crystal ball.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Jo and others,

Tumors markers are a protein or other substance that the tumor makes and is in your blood stream. It is only present in advance breast cancer. Stage I and II do not normally have markers because there is no spread of the cancer.

Path reports are only part of the picture to base staging on. Staging is based on the tumor size, number of lymph nodes involved and if there is cancer in any organs and bone. National Cancer Institute has detailed information and will even help you find information you want about your particular situation. There information is up to date and can be trusted. The on line help is open until 11:00pm eastern time. I found it very helpful researching what I wanted to know. Pubmed is another site I like and trust. I have been anal about finding out whatever I can and reading it at different sites because I don't always like what I read.

Thanks for the prayers for me!

Waving at meece so she can find the end of the tunnel:)

Everything seemed to fall apart when the upgraded the site a few weeks ago.

Meece - Glad to see you back.  Can you see us in the distance? We are waiting for you.

Hiya Blondie- thanks for the beautiful picture to launch our Sunday- here is a big fat texas hug:)

Do u all mind if I join ur group? I will be 52 this month.

welcome sheshe - The Middies are a wonderful group of very supportive ladies.  They have certainly gotten me through the tough times.