Tumor Markers have risen a little bit

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Alcarroll
Alcarroll Member Posts: 16
edited October 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hello all,

Feeling a little nervous tonight, but thankfully have regular appointment with oncologist tomorrow morning. I writing in hopes that someone will respond and I will be able to sleep tonight! The issue is related to my tumor markers. I was diagnosed Stage IV right out of the box back in May with mets to bones. I've been on Letrozole (Femara) and Xgeva since diagnosis. My tumor markers (CA-15) at diagnosis were only slightly out of normal range at 30.6...normal range is 0-25.0. First blood work after starting treatment showed markers were down to 18, next blood work down to 13. I had my 3 month follow-up PET scan and it was significantly improved so I was on top of the world, feeling great. Today, I got the results of my newest blood work and the tumor marker that was at 13 is now at 13.6. I realize that is not a large increase, but I don't think I want to see ANY increase at all. Can anyone shed some light as to how much increase is something to worry about? Could the increase be related to the fact that I used a different lab? Or was perhaps dehydrated that day?

Also, when the diagnosis came in, I immediately removed both my caffeine (Diet Coke) and all sweeties (chocolate, candy, cake)from my diet and moved to a plant based diet with healthy proteins. With the favorable PET scan, I must admit, I've worked a bit of chocolate back into my life. Does anyone believe there is a correlation between sugar and cancer advancing?

Thanks in advance for your input,

Angie



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  • annieoakley
    annieoakley Member Posts: 870
    edited October 2016

    Angie, I most definitely would not worry about an increase of .6. My oncologist said that tumor markers can range a few points in a day, depending on when they were taken. If you understand the science behind how they work you will know that the .6 increase is nothing at all. I panicked once when mine were up 2 points and they went back down. It's only when they start doubling or take a significant jump that would be a cause for concern and even that can be caused by reasons other than the cancer advancing. Stay calm, I'm sure with the significantly improved PET Scan all is well but I know what a mind game this is.

    Hugs, Annie

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited October 2016

    Hi Angie, congratulations on your response to treatment. Those little pills do good work.

    I don't know the exact margin of error for the CA-15 test, but 0.6 of a point has got to be within it. Different lab, different time of day, who knows? I'd read the result as "same as last month". Heck, you might even be lower. The time to worry is when the markers start rising several months in a row.


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  • Fitztwins
    Fitztwins Member Posts: 7,969
    edited October 2016

    Those sound like really good numbers. From everything I read eating sugar does NOT feed cancer. enjoy your chocolate.

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  • Husband11
    Husband11 Member Posts: 2,264
    edited October 2016

    I've read that the margin for error is 10%. Your deviation is slightly less than 2%. I wouldn't worry about it.

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  • Alcarroll
    Alcarroll Member Posts: 16
    edited October 2016

    Thanks so much for the responses! I'm still new at this so your comments have put my mind at ease

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