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That's a tough one.  I just had a call saying my tumor markers were rising. Although I'm not officially BRCA+, ovarian and bc run in my family and according to the geneticist I may carry a BRCA type gene that is not yet identified.

I have decided no matter how stressful the tests are I would rather know sooner than later.  I think diana50 is an example of how catching mets early may help her reach NED and remain there for a long time.  Although she was 10 years out, her onc continued blood tests.  There was a slow steady rise in tms and eventually a scan showed one bone met. It was treated with radiation and she'll be on hormonals and zometa.  Although some doctors say that early dx of mets doesn't change the outcome, I have to disagree.  One small liver met may mean that liver resection is possible, or a few mets mean the the oncs have more options for treatment.

I know it is tough to go through the tests every few  months but it sounds like you are making the best of it.

My kids were only 8 and 11 when I was dxed, so I understand about having young children and cancer.  It sounds like we are almost cancer sisters.  I am stage IIIC with 9 nodes and one mammary, and also on Femera, zometa, plus ooph.

Judging from your treatment plan, I would say your onc is knowledgeable and proactive.  I think you are in good hands. 

I can tell you how my TMs went so it might help you identify if you need to be concerned yet.

I know I'm the dreaded stage 4 but I think the markers show the same for everyone. Still remember that everyone is different and this is only how it went for me.

Back in 2009 mine started rising. I started at 45 and at 400 my onc did a second CT scan and bone scan-nothing show. Three months later, TMs around 900 another round of scans and still nothing. Move forward another three months and TMs now 1400, more scans and there they were, in my right hip. So for me it took that much for the mets to show. Had treatment and still going well.

This is just my story, the onc did expect something to show earlier but it didn't and he didn't want to change treatment until he know what he was dealing with. Physically I was showing no signs of anything happening.

Monitoring the TMs(if they are accurate for you) is the right thing to do and until they show definite and measurable progression it is a waiting game.

It was a hard and difficult wait, there is no denying that but that is just the way it is. I hate waiting for anything in any aspect of my daily life so you can imaging how all this went down but I just had to think "well until they tell me otherwise I'm doing fine today" I was not prepared to waste time worrying about something I had no control over.

It could have taken over my life for those 9 months and that would have been worse. I won't let this damn disease take anything out of my joy of each day.

That doesn't take away from the fact it is damn difficult to wait. I hate waiting, just can't do it.

Keep positive and do whatever you need to do to stay focused on living in the day.Tomorrow will take care of itself.

Moira