Coming out of the shadows....

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ElleOnWheels
ElleOnWheels Member Posts: 75
edited March 2018 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hello amazing people,

I have only posted once before, right after I was diagnosed last May with MBC. I was T E R R I F I E D, You amazing people have helped me more than you will ever know. I read just about every post every day and am continually inspired, educated, supported, amused, saddened....I could go on and on. I feel I know all of you and in my head I respond to everyone, but for some reason I stop myself from posting. NO MORE, I say!

A question for you researchers...is it possible for a Prevnar (pneumonia) vaccine to cause a jump in tumor markers? I have been on Ibrance/Fas for 6 cycles and my markers have gone steadily down. When my doc started tracking them they were over 1,200 and had gone down into the 600's. Last week the reading was over 700. After having a minor crying meltdown I started thinking about it rationally....I feel pretty good, certainly better than I have. I just had scans a few months ago and they showed much improvement, but we all know things can change quickly. Then I remembered I had the Prevnar vaccine the day before my labs.

I think I may be grasping at straws here. The reading knocked the wind out of me. I know tumor markers can jump around, be affected by other things, be unreliable. It's just hard to keep that in mind when you are staring at the numbers. UGH…I gotta toughen up. Still not adjusted to this crazy MBC adventure, and I've been lucky so far. Feel pretty good, work full time…a pretty "normal" life.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I'm going to jump on some threads and hopefully give back some of the tremendous support you've given to me.

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  • blainejennifer
    blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
    edited March 2018

    It is very possible that the vaccine elevated your TMs. Also, one high reading doesn't count, two or three do. Knowing the the CA 27-29 can be affected by non-cancer influences, no MO will change treatment based on one higher reading, unless you have massive symptoms or imaging has shown that there needs to be a change.

    Honestly, if you are feeling good, things are probably OK. Even if they aren't (who knows - cancer is crazy), enjoy feeling good.

    Nice to meet you. This is a great club that no one wants to join.

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  • MJHJAN1014
    MJHJAN1014 Member Posts: 708
    edited March 2018

    Elle-my MO uses these indicators in this order 1) How you feel 2) Scan results 3) tumor markers. Tumor markers have given all of us fits; one data point is not as useful, better to look at the trend. Please discard the thought that you need to toughen up; you are already one among the strongest women in the world. Not sure of the answer to your question about the vaccine, but one elevated tumor marker does not necessarily indicate progression. We all absolutely dread the word, and it took me two months to process my own progression. It is survivable, however. Miraculously we adjust to a new normal.

    Best, MJH

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  • ElleOnWheels
    ElleOnWheels Member Posts: 75
    edited March 2018

    Thank you, MJH and blainejennifer for your feedback and welcome.

    And MJH, thanks for the reminder that I AM strong. Sure doesn't feel like it some days...but I rally pretty quick and keep moving forward.

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