Elevated CA72-4 level for Post Surgery Gastric Cancer Patient.

wnx1999us
wnx1999us Member Posts: 1
in Stomach Cancer #1
66 years old male underwent surgery to remove 2/3 of stomach due to antral ulcer in 2002. Pathological report revealed "Gastric glands has severe atypical dysplasia. Mitotic activity is obvious."

Patient then underwent 6 chemo treatments with 5FU and Mitomycin in 2002. Recovery seemed good with normal food intake and consumption. Blood work also appeared to be normal with no cancer marker above normal range.

Two years after the surgery ( 2004), routine blood test showed a rise in CA72-4.From Nov 2004 to Jan 2005, CA72-4 went from 10 to 160 ( compared to 0-6.9 normal range). CA19-9, CEA and CA24-2 remained normal. Several ultrasound and PET/CT tests revealed no lesion or other abnormality.

Patient were then underwent human interleukin treatment. CA72-4 went down to 20 immediately after the treatments. But as soon as the human interleukin treatment was stopped, CA72-4 went back to 130. Patient has no discomfort as CA72-4 went back to 130.

In May 2005, patient started taking Chinese herbal medicine with obvious effect. Within a month, CA72-4 went down from 130 to 7. CA72-4 remained in 5-15 range till this day as long as the patient kept taking the same medicine at prescribed level ( 5 times a day for a cocktail of three kinds of herbal medicine).

Patient tried to reduce amount of the medicine ( partly due to its high cost). As soon as he reduced the medication intake and within a couple of weeks, CA72-4 went up to as high as 80.

While taking the herbal medicine, patient took frequent blood, ultrasonic, gastro scope and CT tests with no abnormality found other than slight hyperaemia on mucous membrane at the bottom of stomach in annual gastro scope checks ( always there). The patient appears to be in good health and lead an active life.

The questions here are:

1) Do we have cases in which CA72-4 was elevated to high level with no other cancer marker elevation？
2) Does high level of CA72-4 ALONE lead to cancerous growth?
3) Is it okay for the patient to stop taking medication and ignore the elevated CA72-4?
4) What is the current status of research on CA72-4? Specifically, what is the source of CA72-4?

Any other comments and thoughts are welcome.

Thanks!

Comments

  • Sba2018
    Sba2018 Member Posts: 1
    #2
    What are the three herbal medicines?

    Recently my father had stomach surgery. Three months later, he also had elevated CA72-4 level, but not others. He had decreased blood sugar level, though, I am not sure if this is related to the elevated CA72-4 level. Glad to know the patient is leading an active life. I wonder what the three herbal medicines are the patient took? What type of stomach cancer did this man suffer?

    Thank you!

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