Can CA27.29 be zero?

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jacksnana
jacksnana Member Posts: 168
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Those pesky tumor markers have probably been discussed to death on these forums, but I doubt that I'm the only one who freaks out a little bit everytime I have them done.  And on top of that mine are always are in the high end of normal range.

I never thought that the CA 27.29 could be zero, but read this in another forum: "The CA 27-29 is a tumor marker that is most often used in people with breast cancer. In general, the number is not elevated in people with early stage cancers. If someone had an isolated recurrence that resulted in an elevated level and the tumor was surgically removed, the CA 27-29 could go to zero, or within normal range, after surgery. In metastatic cancer, the CA 27-29 level does not ever go down to zero, but it can dip back into the normal range."

Even after BMX and chemo, my tumor markers never got to zero, though I'm over three years from diagnosis. I just always thought that even though we are considered "NED" and not metastatic, our number would not be zero. My onco is not a lot of help here, just always says "normal is normal."

Is my understanding off on this?

 

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  • Lee64
    Lee64 Member Posts: 184
    edited March 2013

    Hi, jacksnana. No, you are not the only one who freaks out over tumor markers. I still don't really understand what exactly is being measured in the blood.  I asked an onco nurse about the significance of the values and she said that everyone has a measureable amount so I'm not sure the result could be zero. I am being checked every 6 mos. now and my numbers have been 18, 15, 13, and last time had jumped to 21.  Kind of disappointing after the downward trend.

    Hopefully, someone can explain this in simple terms.

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  • sewingnut
    sewingnut Member Posts: 1,129
    edited March 2013

    The tumor markers will also reflect any type of inflammation that is going on. If you have arthritis it could affect the number. Any type of infection will also raise the number.

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  • jacksnana
    jacksnana Member Posts: 168
    edited March 2013

    Thanks for your responses ladies!  The tumor markers that were done two weeks ago are up a tiny bit, but still in the normal range.  They also have changed the way they run them.  Always before it was just the CA 15-3 and the CEA.  Now they have changed to the CA 27.29 Tosoh and the CEA Tosoh and they both run higher than the ones they did before. (The first time they did a comparison of the ones they did previously and the new way, at that time the 15-3 was 25 and the 27.29 was 33.) My onc is not worried because they are still in the normal range but only by a few points.  If I could only get my anxiety under control.  All my other bloodwork is fine, so I guess they must take all that into consideration.

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  • Pat634
    Pat634 Member Posts: 271
    edited May 2013

    The same thing happened to me Jacksnana. Mine would teeter between 35 and 45 till I had my gastric bypass surgery two yrs ago when it went down to 29. But the past year at both 6 month exams it crept up 5 points till I was 39.5 (only a half a point within the normal range) but all the other blood work was perfectly normal.  On Wed of this week I go for labs and I currently have some sort of throat infection. Since it went down so much after the weight lost surgery I have been going to the gym 3 times a week doing 40 mins on an exercise bike hoping that this time that number goes down instead of up but with the infection I think I'm going to be screwed.

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  • jacksnana
    jacksnana Member Posts: 168
    edited May 2013

    Hi Pat, my last tumor markers were stable, the CEA went down a tiny bit and the 27-29 stayed exactly the same. I was very relieved! My onco said that each person's results are individual to them and that a lower number doesn't necessarily mean better. I'll be thinking good thoughts for you tommorow! Veda

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  • Pat634
    Pat634 Member Posts: 271
    edited May 2013

    Thank you Jacksnana

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  • Pat634
    Pat634 Member Posts: 271
    edited May 2013

    Darn, my CA 27-29 was up to 48 today. I have to find a dentist to give me a root canal before my repeat labs on June 10th or I have to repeat a PET scan. On the plus side the Onc said he doesn't think its cancer.  My throat infection turned into a full out lung/upper resp. infection.

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  • jacksnana
    jacksnana Member Posts: 168
    edited May 2013

    Hi Pat, sorry your marker was up, but I'll bet it's your infection. Hopefully the root canal will help get that cleared up. Wish they could tell for sure if we had an infection so they could give us an antiobiotic if needed. So many things can mess with the TM number. Here's hoping you'll feel better soon and can skip tbe PET! Thinking good thoughts for you... keep us posted.

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  • Pat634
    Pat634 Member Posts: 271
    edited May 2013

    I hope you're right.

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  • Pat634
    Pat634 Member Posts: 271
    edited June 2013

    Well it took me until June 3rd to get the tooth pulled and the results of my CA 27-29 went up from 48 to 52. I am however still on antibiotics. Anyway they are currently scheduling me for a PET scan. I don't get this, my last mammo was in Nov of 2012 and it was so good they put me back to yearly status and my 3 yr recheck colonoscopy (due to a pre cancerous polyp) came back clear and I was told I wouldnt have to come back for 10 yrs. This makes absolutely no sense to me. The CA 27-29 only checks for breast cancer cells right? Or could this be a different type of cancer altogether?

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  • jacksnana
    jacksnana Member Posts: 168
    edited June 2013

    Hi Pat, I am no expert, but I thought the CA 27-29 only checked for breast cancer cells. Does your oncologist know that you just had the root canal and were still on antibiotics?  Maybe she is just being really cautious.  I hate the tumor markers! Last time my doctor told me we didn't even have to do them, that the trend is getting away from having them run because of so many false positives.  I've read on these boards that the doctors of many, many women do not run them routinely. I'm afraid to have them run and I'm afraid not to! Thinking good thoughts for you and hoping you can keep from getting too stresssed about the PET (listen to who's talking!). Thanks for checking back in, keep us posted.   Veda

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  • Pat634
    Pat634 Member Posts: 271
    edited June 2013

    Had the PET scan today. I forgot how much time you get to just sit there in the semi darkness with nothing to do but think...ugh! I see my Oncologist at noon tomorrow for the results.

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  • jacksnana
    jacksnana Member Posts: 168
    edited June 2013

    Glad you got the PET behind you. Saying a prayer for good results for you tomorrow.

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  • 3boysmom39
    3boysmom39 Member Posts: 54
    edited June 2013

    Pat,

    I had a PET today too....should know something tomorrow...let us know how it goes, prayers coming your way!

    Karen

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  • Pat634
    Pat634 Member Posts: 271
    edited June 2013

    Thanks Veda, Thanks Karen, prayers to you as well.

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  • Pat634
    Pat634 Member Posts: 271
    edited June 2013

    Yeah it metastisized to my sternum. Islolated to that area but it's pretty big. Covers nearly the whole area of the sternum.  Biopsy next week sometime (to be scheduled on Monday) and then appt with Oncologist on July 12th. He mentioned something about radiation and some medication, no surgery or chemo mentioned yet.

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  • jacksnana
    jacksnana Member Posts: 168
    edited June 2013

    Oh Pat, I am so, so sorry. This is considered a local recurrence, right? Hopefully you'll feel better after you meet witb the oncologist and know for sure what the treatment plan is. Just take one day at a time. Thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers. Veda

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  • Pat634
    Pat634 Member Posts: 271
    edited June 2013

    I believe it's considered a local recurrance. The PET scan said i had an SUV of 5.0 and I have no idea what that means.

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