postpartum elevated CA2729 levels ???

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christina0001
christina0001 Member Posts: 1,491
edited April 2016 in Young With Breast Cancer

Has anyone read anything or experienced elevated CA2729 levels postpartum? I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago, and four weeks ago I gave birth to my first baby. I'm so happy - I didn't think I'd get to have a child after being diagnosed and treated! Anyway, I had my biannual CA2729 level done this week and I went from 30 to 51. My oncologist is sending me to have a mammogram (I was due anyway for one, but I was putting it off - I wasn't keen on having a mammogram done while my one breast is full of milk). I am wondering how worried I should be; I wonder if the postpartum hormones and/or the breastfeeding hormones could have raised the level. It's only been in the 50s once before, when I first started chemo.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited October 2015

    This says that pregnancy and lactation are non-malignant reasons for elevation:

    https://www.questdiagnostics.com/testcenter/testgu...


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  • christina0001
    christina0001 Member Posts: 1,491
    edited October 2015

    Thank you! That is so reassuring!!! Crossing my fingers that this is the reason.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited October 2015

    I'll cross mine for you too

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  • floaton
    floaton Member Posts: 181
    edited November 2015

    Christina, hi and hope all is well! I had my first mammogram when I was diagnosed while breastfeeding my 6 month old. They couldn't see anything with the mammogram due to all the milk / breastfeeding changes, but did do an ultrasound and later an MRI which could see the tumor. Just thought I'd give you a heads up because I know it was super stressful for me that when I showed up for my mammogram and told them I was breastfeeding it took a while for them to sort themselves out and do the testsbecause no one really knew what to do because it happens so infrequently.

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  • christina0001
    christina0001 Member Posts: 1,491
    edited November 2015

    Thank you, Melissa. :) Floaton, we have sort of similar diagnoses and treatment histories. I wish there were more data on pregnancy / postpartum + breast cancer. I have a mammogram and ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow, and I'll see my oncologist on Thursday. I've already started weaning my baby. It makes me sad to do it but if not breastfeeding will help figure out what is going on, then that's just how it's got to be.

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  • floaton
    floaton Member Posts: 181
    edited November 2015

    Christina, I'm so sorry that you're going through this - weaning was seriously one of the hardest parts of all of this for me. From my experience, MRI and ultrasound showed my mass just fine without weaning first (I didn't have time I was so surprised!). I even successfully got an ultrasound guided biopsy when I was still actively breastfeeding. I think the only test that was affected was the mammo, which isn't awesome premenopausally anyway. Best wishes with your tests today!!!


    Edited to add - it would really be nice if there was more data out there for us, it makes it hard to make decisions in a vacuum

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  • christina0001
    christina0001 Member Posts: 1,491
    edited November 2015

    They ended up skipping the mammogram and just doing an ultrasound, which showed no changes. My oncologist is going to have us wait 6 weeks since I've fully weaned baby off of the breast, and then we will redo the CA27.29. Hopefully the level will have gone down. If not, we will do a PET scan. I'm terrified that I have mets somewhere... it would be the absolute worst news possible to get after having a baby. My little guy needs his momma. I really really hope this level goes down, and was just elevated from being postpartum and nursing. We had been talking about trying for a second baby but now we are totally against it, and I'll be restarting tamoxifen soon. Thanks again for the support.

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  • floaton
    floaton Member Posts: 181
    edited November 2015

    Christina, that's good news on the ultrasound! I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you that it was all just lactation-related. Hang in there. 6 weeks is a long time, so be kind to yourself, andI'm sure your little guy will help keep you busy :)!


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  • christina0001
    christina0001 Member Posts: 1,491
    edited April 2016

    Just in case anyone goes through something similar... we retested my CA2729 3 months post-partum, and about 8 weeks after stopping breastfeeding. The results were just above normal range, and lower than the elevated level I had 4 weeks post-partum and while breastfeeding. We rechecked the CA2729 again 4-5 months postpartum, at which point I was (am) pregnant again (hooray!) and we were thrilled that the CA2729 had finally dropped into the normal range. So at least in my situation, it looks like late pregnancy hormones and/or breastfeeding gave me a temporary high level.

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