Elevated CA15-3 after Radiotherapy

bydand
bydand Member Posts: 17
edited February 2020 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Can radiotherapy cause an increase in CA15-3 levels? My mom just completed radiotherapy to her breast, axilla and bones 1 month ago. Her most recent CA15-3 levels came back as 37, increased from around 21 pre-radiation.

Is this normal? Or should we be concerned about progression

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited February 2020

    Hello! I don't really know the answer to your question but I didn't want you to go without a response.

    I will say that radiation does all sorts of weird things. Causes inflammation, messes up the workings of the body. For months. So it's certainly possible.

    Ask her doctor on her next visit?

    The other thing to know is that tumor marker measurements don't work for everyone. For some people they are highly predictive (raising my hand for CA15-3. My CEA levels have always been normal). For some people they go up and down randomly and don't mean a thing. It's too early for you to know which is true for your Mom.

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  • bydand
    bydand Member Posts: 17
    edited February 2020

    Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post! That makes me feel better. We are hoping it's either the radiation or Kisqali which we started 3 months ago. Not to mention she also had a URI 2 weeks before the blood draw which may have contributed to the elevation.

    She had a PET scan last week (1 year post diagnosis of state IV de novo) and it continues to show NEAD!


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  • Maaaki
    Maaaki Member Posts: 110
    edited February 2020

    hello, I also had slight increase in Ca15-3 after cyber knife radiation to vertebra. The highest was also 37. After I startes kisqali it went slowly down. First in ten points, than it stayed for two months more of same and than another ten points

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited February 2020

    Bydand, the PET scan is the most important thing. It tells truth. TMs are just a marker. For some people.

    Congratulations on the great scan!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2020

    just two more cents from me - when I was on chemo, my markers (originally within the normal range on both cea and 15-3) went up a small bit similar to what your mom's did. I had read somewhere that dying cells and the process of the body eliminating them can cause a slight rise in tumor markers. So probably similar effect can happen with radiation treatment, too.

    Congrats from me too on a good PET scan result! Indeed, this matters much more than a small rise in TM. Scans tell the tale!

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  • bydand
    bydand Member Posts: 17
    edited February 2020

    Thank you all for your encouraging words and support! It was a very tough wait since it was the first PET after all the local treatments (surgery and RT) since she is being treated with curative intent.

    Very happy that she remains NED! Wishing positive results for everyone!

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