Tumor Markers 27-29 (For Dr. Leo)

jayne · New User Joined: 19 Dec 2004 Posts: 8

This messge is for Dr. Leo,
Dr. Leo, can you offer me any info on this? I was dx with bc in 2001. So far, all ct scans, PETS, etc have been negative. I feel good. However, since the last year and a half my tm's have been slowly rising. They started out at 16 and have now risen to 75 back in August of 2004. I had ovarian cysts which are no longer there after my last pelvic US in November. My onc wants to repeat tm's in February. Could it possibly be the cysts which made them rise? My onc said she will order a bone marrow test if they continue to rise. I know other things cause them to go up, but they have steadily risen over the past year and a half and I have not had any infections etc for that long. Any info on this please ???
Or anyone else on the board I would welcome info shared.
Thanks so much
Jayne

Muttsmom

HI Jayne,
The way my onco explained it to me was that he was doing the CA 27-29 (started them 1 1/2 years after my original dx when he was as sure as he could be that I was NED) to keep an eye on them to see what was "normal" for me. Mine have stayed between 8.95 and 12.75 and the last one went back down to 10.50. He said if I was having problems and the markers were still well within the normal range, he'd take my problems, like bone pain over what the tumor markers said. If the tumor markers kept going up over a period of time, he'd do testing even if I wasn't having problems. In other words, he'll watch them, but won't depend on them, it's just something to watch.
I know the CEA can change if someone quits smoking, it's real sensitive and he's never done that on me. There are reasons that your markers could be going up that have nothing to do with BC. Your onco, in my opinion is being cautious and wanting to check things out since they are over 38. I'm sure you're scared, I would be too, but from what I understand, they are more reliable if you have mets to see if the treatment they are doing is working, but not a guarentee.
I "think" that it's the white count that is involved if the bone marrow is. Have your labs been normal? When was your last PET Scan? Mine doesn't do them routinely. I have my labs done every 4 months and a chest x-ray once a year unless, like last year my hip was hurting and he did a bone scan. Everything came out fine Smile

I know Feb. seems like forever, having to wait. The waiting is always so hard. Again, I've seen alot of ladies who's markers go up and are still NED after the CT's etc. are fun. Praying yours will be the same results. If you don't mind me asking, what stage were you?
Hugs and Prayers
Nancy
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
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10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
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In memory of Kim 12/1/04

leo · Owner Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

Tumor markers are tools that have to used cautiously. Like Nancy said, it is great to have a "baseline", so the optimal approach is to get one at the time of diagnosis, see what happens after surgery, then follow it. If they were high before treatment and became normal, great, you have a good marker of recurrence. Otherwise it's of no use. Your doctor is assuming your 16 was your baseline, and if it is rising it may be your breast cancer. But it can be other things as well. From a website:

[quote]CA 27-29 levels can also be elevated by cancers of the colon, stomach, kidney, lung, ovary, pancreas, uterus, and liver. First trimester pregnancy, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, benign breast disease, kidney disease, and liver disease are noncancerous conditions that can also elevate CA 27-29 levels.[/quote]

So there is no way to know what is causing its rise since you do not have one before treatment. But it is certainly worrysome that it is rising to these numbers. I am sure your oncologist is on top of it.

best regards,
Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

Divine1 · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:19 pm Post subject: markers

Hello to all, I had my markers done just the other day, My good doc said to me, You don't want to hear from me on Thursday! That means there was a change in my markers.
Well all is well and nothing to fret about.
I just got out of the hospital with celluitias on my arm that was due to a Car accident the 7th of the month.
Doing better but still alot of pain..
God bless all of us warriors..
Tammy Smile

_________________
Tammy 43 yrs old ,Wife to Doug for 25 yrs
Mom to two kids, Comp Hyst 1/90
Ant, Post Fus 10/02,,Cerv Fus 8/03 Dx. Lob B/C 12/18/03 19 nod Neg Stge 2, ER Post. Mast lft w/expan, Rt Mast 6/03 imp. 11-03 Imp Finished .7/03 Arimidex 5 yrs.

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