Tumor Marker Fluctuations

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ann273
ann273 Member Posts: 209
edited March 2016 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hey everyone,

I know that the topic of tumor markers has been discussed a lot on forums here. I just started getting them since a year or so every 4 months and though they are within the normal range (I get the CA 15-3), over the last 8 months they went up by 2 points (From 18-20) and have increased by about half a point each time. While I know thats barely an increase, I am always afraid that they're just creeping up slowly and the next test will be the one where they'll just shoot up. I know a lot of us on the stage 3 forum do get markers done, so I was wondering how markers trend for you guys from test to test. It seems almost improbable that the marker can be the same number each time, but I Would be happy to see examples. I tend to obsess over these numbers to a point where I just want to stop getting them and at the same time understand how important it is to catch mets early.

I know that I am fortunate to just be NED and have learned to let the small things go. I feel however that a lot of us worry about our next tumor marker test, and just understanding how they trend for different people might help control that panic. Thanks in advance for helping out and for all your posts that make my day a little bit saner.

Ann

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Comments

  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited March 2016

    I wish I could remember the my exact numbers. A few years ago, while my numbers were well within the normal range, they went up slightly. My primary doc was alarmed and caused me a great deal of unnecessary anxiety. My onc is in another city, and said it was nothing to be concerned about as long as they did not continue to increase. Does your onc have any explanations for a half point increase? It seems that factors, other than cancer, could account for minor increases.

    How did you onc decide on testing every 4 months? I haven't heard of being tested so frequently. My recommendation is every 6 months or at least once a year.

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  • ann273
    ann273 Member Posts: 209
    edited March 2016

    Thanks for your response clariceak! I meet my onc every 4 months still and get them done every time I meet him. He doesn't even glance twice at these minor increases. When I asked, he said its improbable that the number will be exactly the same every time and that if we took two different blood samples the same day, there might well be a 0.5 - 1 point difference. I suppose what Im trying to ask is, is it possible that a number is always the exact same each time?

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  • YATCOMW
    YATCOMW Member Posts: 664
    edited March 2016

    In regards to tumor markers.....they can jump around a lot.......your differences are nothing really. An oncologist is really looking for a 30-50 point jump to be really concerned. My tumor markers have ranged from 17-25 over the last 12 years. A cold, infection and other things can impact the numbers....any kind of inflammation.

    I hate tumor markers.....gives us all a lot of anxiety but I still do them.


    Jacqueline

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  • ann273
    ann273 Member Posts: 209
    edited March 2016

    Thanks YATCOMW, that really helps! :)

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited March 2016

    Ann, I have three markers done for ovarian cancer. As an example, Normal value for CA-125 is >35. Mine was 800 prior to surgery. My CEA bounces around minimally like you are talking about and they have never been concerned about it because it wasn't a trend up.

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  • ann273
    ann273 Member Posts: 209
    edited March 2016

    Thanks Melissa!

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited March 2016

    Ann, I have an excel spreadsheet with which I track my tumor markers (weird, I know). They were drawn when I was first diagnosed and at least every three months after that, so I have quite a graph. I don't believe it's possible for the numbers to be exactly the same from one draw to the next. Mine went up when I was doing chemo, and now are always within the "normal" range. But they do bounce around quite a lot.

    Any infection, surgery, flu bug...a lot of innocent things...can make tumor markers bounce around. It' the trend that's important.

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  • wrmbrownie
    wrmbrownie Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2016

    Hm...I'm looking at some of my previous labwork and am not sure where to look for tumor marker info. My 6 month everything is coming up next month and I'd like to know what I'm looking for, lol!

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited March 2016

    Wrmbrownie, the common tumor markers drawn for us are CA 15:3 (normal less than 35) and CA 27:29 (normal less than 38). Are you sure your doctor draws these? Many don't.


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  • wrmbrownie
    wrmbrownie Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2016

    Ah...thank you for the information, sbelizabeth, now I know how to search my info. I don't think mine did, now that I'm looking. Thanks again!

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  • ann273
    ann273 Member Posts: 209
    edited March 2016

    Thanks for the info sbelizabeth!

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