Don't understand ca27.29

I'm glad you bumped your post by answering after it!  Now it will get noticed! Here I am so that's proof!  I think you are right. Tumor markers seem to work for you, although they are very unreliable for some.  I have only had the 15.3 done.  It was 22 in the beginning, then went down to 18, then up to 19, then 20.  Now it is 22.  That really is not a significant change and is still in the normal range.  I would say, they are of little use to me probably. They have always been around the same before, during and after treatment.  But you have seen your markers fluctuate when the treatment hasn't worked.  So I would mention your thinking to your oncologist and asks for scans. I see now that you are stage IV.  I hope you post this in the stage IV forum as well. You will get much help, support and good answers over there.-sorry I see that someone finally just answered and you didn't bump your own post.  I don't know how I messed that up!

if your cancer returns, it has to be "measureable"  or large enough to see on a PET scan, CT or MRI.  somes times if you are scanned too prematurely....and if there is active cancer going on but not large enough to be seen on scan.. you think you are fine when you may not be.  often times with elevation of tumor markers...depending on the number...we are talking about OVER 38....like doubled or tripled....then you may get a scan...or another retest in a few months to see what it is doing. remember; the tumor marker test looks at cancer proteins in the blood.  (that is why during chemo sometimes your marker will elevate because the chemo is moving the cancer cells around and killing them) 

very important that you can talk to your oncologist about your concerns and questions.  hang in there(

It is hard to say what the 67 means for you because you have nothing to compare it to. For me, when I was early stage, my ca 27/29 ranged between 9 & 11. When I was diagnosed with liver mets, mine was at 50. That was high for me.

Hopefully the next time you have it, it will have dropped more into the normal range. If not, hopefully you will have scans to rule out anything.



Laurie

I am doing well.  I have been NED for a year and a half and taking a break from Herceptin & tykerb for the summer since my last ca 27/29  was 9.8.

Let us know what your tumor marker is at the end of the month.

good luck

Laurie  

Dear Laurie, that is wonderful, you are doing great!!!! I will definitely let you know. Thanks to you as well, nowords, your words made me feel better as well. Blessings and hugs, Kathy

Chemo can make markers rise. A lot of things do. And one can have cancer and perfect tumor marker scores. Oddly, it doesn't seem to matter how much mets you have, the treatment is the same so they often go by how you feel rather than markers......and yes, trends would give a batter idea of how your markers respond (tumor markers are in everyone, not just cancer patients and they do not measure cancer cells). There's a new blood test coming up that can detect cancer at its earliest stage.