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TUMOR MARKERS

lajohnso4
lajohnso4 CSN Member Posts: 31
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
How important is tumor markers in determining if your breast cancer has come back? The last time I went for my 3 months checkup mines was CA 15 3. Please pray for me on April 27 (Tuesday) I see my doctor for 3 three months check-up again.
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Comments

  • joyful
    joyful CSN Member Posts: 7
    #2
    Be encouraged and know that God is with you.Never stop praying.
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  • bettygee
    bettygee CSN Member Posts: 40
    #3
    Hi, I don't know the answer to your question, but I said a prayer for you when I read your message and I will remember to say another one tomorrow when you are going to see your doctor.Perhaps your doctor could explain it to you. I wish you all the best and please keep us posted as to how you are doing. Lovingly, Betty
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  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd CSN Member Posts: 950 Member
    #4
    That's a loaded question, and hard to answer, but I'll tell you what I know.
    My CEA went up Oct 2001 and we found a bone metastasis. It was normal in Nov, then started climbing again Dec 2001. It and my CA 27.29 have been going up ever since. I've had complete workups about every 6-12 months and we don't find anything to treat.
    Baylor College of Medicine told me markers don't mean anything unless you have symptoms; weight loss, fatigue, chronic cough, bone pain, etc...
    Personal opinion, I'd do a full workup with the initial increase, and then follow up only as symptoms appear. If it's CA 27.29 that you had done less than 40 is normal, but recent chemo/rad treatment can still have it elevated. I think mine was 187 March 2004. I told my onc, I wished my stock prices would go up like my markers! LOL
    God bless.
    hummingbyrd
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  • cynch
    cynch CSN Member Posts: 1
    #5
    Hi. In my country, tumor markers are not routine procedures done by oncs. My onco has told me that there are a few hospitals in my country which do these procedures and that they are very expensive. Can you tell me more about it? How are these done? What are its advantages and disadvantages? How often should these be done and what for? I am estrogen/progesterone positive in my assay test done after my mastectomy.

    thanks and God bless! cynch
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