What is considered high for tumor markers?

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lmcclure4477
lmcclure4477 Member Posts: 180
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Before I started chemo and after my double masectomy I had my tumor market blood work done. It was 34. Is this high? The nurse said that the doctor isn't concerned unless is above 40. It just freaks me out because it is close to that number. Started chemo mid February and I will have my last treatment on Monday. Haven't had my tumor markers tested since before chemo. Does it take awhile for doctors to do this test after chemo? I am already starting to get anxiety!!

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited May 2013

    Do you know which marker? You can google "normal values range" for each individual one. I get Ca125, CEA, And CA19 drawn for ovarian cancer & the ranges are different for each. Usually they are watching for serial increases over time. Tumor markers aren't accurate for a lot of people too. If you are below normal that is good.

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited May 2013

    Oh my goodness. In the grand scheme of things, a 34 is nothing. Really.... nothing. The things about the tumor markers is your normal, and my normal will be two different numbers. But by any measure 34 is low. Some of us have seen over 1000, 2000, 5000. Enjoy your normal. As someone's grandmother says, "don't borrow trouble."

    Be well,

    *susan*

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited May 2013

    Yes, I should have said what Susan did.



    CA125 normal is below 35 & mine was almost 1000 before my surgery.

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  • rachelvk
    rachelvk Member Posts: 1,411
    edited June 2013

    Also, my understanding is that it's not so much the number that matters - it's how it changes. If it goes up and keeps going up, then there are issues to look into.

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  • Ahicks62
    Ahicks62 Member Posts: 19
    edited July 2013

    My oncologist checks tumor markers, but he does not worry about a specific number, he watches for trends. He told me if the markers increase steadily over time or suddenly spike he will want to look into it further.

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