Tumor Marker ?

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Rachel1
Rachel1 Member Posts: 363
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Anyone else here not produce the protein for tumor markers. I was told at my last 3 mo. appt. that I don't produce the protein, so no marker test. My onc. only does labs. Should I be concerned about this?? What do your oncs. do to follow you? Thanks,

Rachel 

IDC 5/2010 4.5 cm, grade 3, 7+nodes, BRCA2+, oomph 2/11, bilat mx 9/11, tamoxifen 

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  • faithfulheart
    faithfulheart Member Posts: 544
    edited April 2012

    Hi Rachel,

    My doc. He just does my blood, liver, bones cbc ect... no tumor markers, from what he says they can be very unreliable,  no scans either,  to much radiation is not good.......... We just go on symptoms and standard blood work!!!!  So far so good!!!!

    I like it this way, no false positive results to freak me out!!!!

    Trust your doc, its pretty standerd to not do tumor markers these days... More sisters will be along soon.

    God Bless................

    Steph

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited April 2012

    How does your doctor know you don't produce the protein?  I get the 15.3 tumor marker.  Mine has always stayed the same in the 18 to 22 range at the beginning and all through treatment and now...

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited April 2012

    i have been doing tumor markers for 10 years.  for me; i think they are important.  my markers have changed in the last year and half; going up from the teens.  the highest is 34 but the last year has been elevating.  my onc (who i saw this week) looks at them as just another way to watch me.  she is doing blood work again in 4 months and an appt follows.  i don't freak out about the markers but i like to see what is going on inside me and the changes that occur.  i think that if there are changes in blood work; over a period of time, it MAY be something to look at.  all the other blood work is good; but the protein for breast cancer may be something to look at.  some people don;t do them; some people do.,  and for some people they aren't helpful at all.  i do blood work every 6 months.  that works for me.  i feel great.  no symptoms of anything.  but, in the back of my mind; i also realize that cancer is sneaky.  that is why i do the markers and why my onc seems ok with doing them.  i don't do scans unless really really necessary.  but if my markers really rise and i get into NOT NORMAL range; i will have a PET scan.  that way, i feel like i am taking care of business. lol  Cool

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  • Teri36
    Teri36 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2012

    I was first dx in 2000 and would have the C27-29 done up until 2009 and they were always below 38. Recently I had one done because of having swollen lymph nodes in the neck, it is now 74. Had CT  scan, PET scan and biopsy done and found out that I have positive lymph nodes, how many I do not know. I had dbl mastectomy and 19 positive nodes removed in 2000, chemo, radiation, tamoxifin and femara and always wondered if there were any more floating around, guess there were.

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited April 2012

    No TMs here.

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited April 2012

    None here either, never had one.  I've had two onc and neither one of them did them or trust them.  I get labs and we go by my symptoms and nothing else....it's scary I know :)

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited April 2012

    My onc does tumor markers, CBC and CMP along with physical and history at each visit....but I think he relies more on the physical and info from patient than anything else....

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  • anneflorida
    anneflorida Member Posts: 59
    edited April 2012

    I get the Ca 15.3 done every 4 months.  My tumor markers have been slightly elevated from the beginning,31-38,but my onc says some women are naturally a little high.  As long as I stay in my "normal" range, he is not worried.  He did say that if I go over 50 that he would scan me.

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  • financegirl
    financegirl Member Posts: 114
    edited April 2012

    I had a lot of positive lymph nodes and they did a PET/CT infusion and blood marker tests at the beginning.  I've had surgery, chemo, rads and now on Arimidex.  In March I began the testing to see if treatment worked (it did, NED).  Was squished, prodded, poked, scoped, you name it.  But my understanding from my onc is that there will be no scans (due to radiation) and that blood markers have a lot of false results.  I'll have monthly bloodwork (due to Arimidex) and the onc wants me to see the surgeon and GYN each once a year, 6 months apart so I am having at least 2 clinical exams by doctors and then mammos/ultrasound 6 months at first and then a year apart beginning next year.  Additional testing only if a problem.

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