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Julebule
Julebule Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hello from Germany!

 I'm reading all your posts since my mums diagnosis in September 2009. You give me so much hope and advice, that help our family and my mother in matters of coping oder difficult decisions.

After all therapies, my mum began to work again a year ago. She has back pains on and off and problems with digestion over the last month. She had a colonoscopy last week which showed nothing cancerous.That was a big relieve for us...

But now her new tumor marker came in and i have new concerns, that there is something "developing" that is not yet big enough to be found. I worry a lot and I know, that thats not helping much. My mother tries to be strong, but I know her and see the anxiety behind her smile. 

Her CA 15-3 was 7 (six month ago), 11 (three month ago) and is now 20. They tell her, that everything below 25 is "normal".... But I know, that these markers are very individual and that "more than doubling" vom 7 to 20 ist not a good sign. Her doctors plan to wait for the next check up in 3 month (yeah, 2 days before christmas...).Probably its the best way to deal with it, but the waiting realy is the hardest part, especially when you have the feeling that something is not ok. 

I know we worry a lot, but we try not to talk about it every day... what would you do in such a situation? I dont want to talk to my mum directly, because I dont want her to worry so much about me, so she dont has to be "strong" all the time and to hide her fears. 

I had a similiar situation, when she was doing chemo. I researched a lot and found out, that there were better chemo regimes, than the one she received. She should have got DD EC+T or maybe ETC instead of "normal" EC-T. But back than i chose not to tell her, because I think, thats its important to trust in the therapy your receiving and not to wonder "what if...". 

Thank you all for reading! I hope you can understand my english.. There are a few ladys here with the same diagnosis as my mum, i think a lot about you and follow your posts..

Julia

 /edit: spelling

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited September 2011

    Hi Julia,

    Gosh you are a wonderful daughter!  Your Mom is very lucky to have you on her side.  I can't personally tell you what to do  regarding the tumor markers as my onc doesn't do them.  But if it is weighing heavily on your mind would your Mom's doctor be objected in speaking with you about your concerns?  Here in the States we have to sign a release to let other people have access to our medical information.  Do you have that there, and if so are you on your Mom's chart?  If so I would definitely call to see if you can have a phone consultation at the very least.

    Big Hugs to you and your Mum!

    Sharon

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited September 2011

    Hello Julebule!

    I get the CA 15-3 test every time I go see my oncologist (every three months).  I have looked at my numbers throughout my entire treatment.  They have always hovered around 18 to 22, the number was 22 at the beginning and is now 18 and now 19.  This is in the normal rage.  However, if I were to see a large jump like what you are seeing and a steady upward climbing,  I would at the very least want to keep an eye on it.  I don't think they will scan until or if the numbers were to go outside of the normal range, which I believe is above 37.  I have heard these markers a lot of times mean nothing and that is why a lot of oncologist do not rely on them. There are women on here who have metastatic cancer whose markers are in the normal range. Sorry this is causing you stress.  I hope that the numbers stop climbing and that you can rest easy knowing that your mother will be ok. 

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  • Julebule
    Julebule Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2011

    Thank you for your kind words!

    I know that my mum has to decide by herself how to deal with this. But it is hard to see, that she really needs some reassurement and often says "Its in the normal range, so its probably nothing...or, what do you think?" I do not want to lie, but I dont want to upset her either with my thoughts and feelings.

    I really hate cancer and what it does to my mum and my family. My father lost both his parents (colon and lung cancer) at the age von 45 and 58. Im not sure how he could manage a progression of my mums disease.

    But it gives me hope to read your posts, because they show me, that there are others, that try to handle this disease and that there is always some way to go on although you often think you cant hold on any longer.

     Julia

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