CA 27-29 tumor marker specific to breast cancer

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Mielli
Mielli Member Posts: 49
edited September 2018 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I could not find another forum specifically about tumor markers. Please let me know if I should post this elsewhere. Also, does anyone have anything to say about tumor markers, specifically CA 27-29, which is an indicator for the presence of breast cancer or its recurrence or metastasis (but is far from being a "perfect" blood test)? Feb 1 of this year, one week after lumpectomy and 4 negative lymph nodes removed (for Stage 1b invasive cancer, 3 types) my level was 29.2 "Normal" is below 38, but the trend of the results is meaningful also, according to my research. Yesterday, August 16, I had another CA 27-29, which was higher at 36.9, after SAVI partial breast radiation and almost 5 months on letrozole. My Med Onc's office called today and left a message for me to call to make an appointment. Every time I tried the rest of the day, I had to leave a message due to their high volume of calls. This office has not been great with communication, so I'm a little surprised and concerned about the rapid results and request for an appointment. I've sometimes questioned the decision for partial breast radiation (no chemo), after lumpectomy. COULD the original cancer still be there, or recurring already, or just now showing up/not seen prior? My original diagnosis was December, 2017. Anyone?

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  • princessfluffybritches
    princessfluffybritches Member Posts: 81
    edited August 2018

    I don't think your marker numbers mean much unless there's a trend.  There are factors that can interfere with the numbers.  29 to 36 may not be as significant as you think it is and I would wait for a trend of numbers .  I hope your Onc. can explain it better than me.  I get the feeling sometimes as well that there is this urgency about appts, but it doesn't seem to be a correlation with bad news, just time for an appt to explain stuff.  

    I would also talk to the staff about the problem with the communication and how it makes you feel.  They need to realize that you are a person and need to be treated like you matter.  I know this sounds awful.  But darn it!  We are entitled to feel like individuals and not some "high volume" caller.  I'm not a number.  I'm a person.  

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited August 2018

    Tumor markers are reliable for some people, but unreliable for many others which is why many oncologists do not use them. I believe inflammation can cause them to rise so it may be from radiation. That being said, the possibility of recurrence, slim as it may be, exists for everyone, regardless of surgery type or radiation, so follow your MO’s advice for follow up. Keep us posted

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  • Mielli
    Mielli Member Posts: 49
    edited September 2018

    Thank you for your replies, princessfluffybritches and KBeee. I apologize for the WAY-delayed reply! I have seen all 3 of my oncologists in the past 2 months, for blood tests, first followup mammogram and ultrasound, and discussions. My surgical oncologist, who is a "nationally renowned breast surgeon" (he told me so himself; lol) AND who I thought was "slightly" arrogant and dismissive of me during the first visit after diagnosis, actually showed the most concern. He DID say the tumor markers can often fluctuate due to many reasons -- viral illnesses, other inflammation in the body. However, he spent 2 years (!) in research on the subject, and he does want it repeated in 3 months from the last one (instead of in 6 weeks as the nurse practitioner who sees me at the med onc's office had recommended). He has seen tumor markers, including CEA, within LOW normal range, with tiny increases over time (0.5 to 1.0, for example), who ended up having mets to the liver, after they continued to elevate only slightly. Then, someone else had fluctuating CA 27-29's, and he discovered they were due to her exposure to chemicals used in their strawberry farm! Levels would be up during the time the chemicals were applied, and normal at other times. That's scary, isn't it? He told her to go far away when chemicals were being applied, as in ... another state. So, I am not panicking, and I am reassured that I will be followed and re-scanned if the trend is significantly upward. Best wishes to all of us who are traveling this unchosen journey.

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