tumor markers

lindatn
lindatn Member Posts: 229
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I know this has been discussed endlessly but after two years of being out and never had a tumor marker done before she did one Monday and it came back 33.9 which is high. She told me not to worry as all other bloodwork, mammogram etc was fine. Well I am worried but on the other hand with the latest news on CT and the amount of radiation given off by them I'm not in a hurry to repeat that either. Anyone else with this high of marker and Dr saying don't worry? She will recheck in early Jan. I do go to a well known cancer center. Linda

Comments

  • jamjar62
    jamjar62 Member Posts: 135
    #2
    Linda...my onc told me that anything under 38 was normal. Maybe different lab or something. One thing I do know is that I wouldn't wait til January to have it rechecked. My marker went from 0 to 9 and my onc wanted me to recheck it in 6 weeks which I did and it was back to 0. Plus, as I'm sure you've read on this board, markers are really not a surefire indication of disease and many docs don't even do them. For your peace of mind, ask her to repeat sooner than January. Lots of fun holidays coming up that you don't want to worry your way through.

    Blessings,
    Karen
  • bunnie
    bunnie Member Posts: 233
    #3
    Hi i agree would want to be rechecked befrore that.jut for pice of mind.I wish you the best of luck. bunnie
  • SusanAnne
    SusanAnne Member Posts: 245
    #4
    Linda, 33.9 might be "normal" for you. If you have your pre-op blood workup look on there, the hospital usually does that test then. Mine was 32 (supposedly normal) before any treatment and I had stage 3 cancer. After treatment it's gone down to 16. So why are you at 33, I'm at 16 and Karen is at 0? Who knows. I agree that you should have it rechecked before the holidays. Why has your doc decided to start doing them now?
    Susan
  • lindatn
    lindatn Member Posts: 229
    #5
    SusanAnne said:

    Linda, 33.9 might be "normal" for you. If you have your pre-op blood workup look on there, the hospital usually does that test then. Mine was 32 (supposedly normal) before any treatment and I had stage 3 cancer. After treatment it's gone down to 16. So why are you at 33, I'm at 16 and Karen is at 0? Who knows. I agree that you should have it rechecked before the holidays. Why has your doc decided to start doing them now?
    Susan

    Susan, The reason she did the tumor marker is because I am in a new cancer treatment center. I had been at Vanderbilt but they no longer would take the state insurance I have. I was very unhappy at having to change care and of course no longer see my team there. The cancer center said not to worry but easy for them to say and she didn't change my appointment for any earlier so I don't know. It does seem this test leaves a lot to be disired. MD Anderson doesn't do it either and apparently neither does Vanderbilt. I will check and see if my GP had done this marker before he sent me to Vanderbilt of course that was right when they found the cancer. This whole thing is a jounery I would rather of not taken. Husband has had prostate cancer treatment a PSA of 60 and has refused any PSA testing since. He says when he has a problem he will then have it checked out, he might be right. Linda
  • inkblot
    inkblot Member Posts: 698 Member
    #6
    Hi LindaTN:

    My guess is that you probably don't need to worry too much but as others have suggested, request that your doc repeat the test sooner than scheduled. At least you can see if there has been any change.

    Tumor markers are just tools docs are trying to learn to use. Problem is that there are so many variables, it's impossible to really rely on them. Some women have reccurence or mets and no change in markers. Others have experienced a jump in markers for no reason which can ever be found. Many different things can effect the numbers...not just cancer. And it's true that 38 is considered normal. (Anything between 0 and 38)

    There are several different marker tests being used. Just type in the test you had (such as CA27-29) on a good search engine and you should get lots of info which may help to ease your mind that you numbers are not out of range. Since you never had a post treatment baseline marker done, there's nothing for comparison. 38 may be what your normal is going to be?

    Try to relax a bit. Get the doc in gear for retesting at an earlier date and feel better soon.

    Love, light and laughter,
    Ink
  • SusanAnne
    SusanAnne Member Posts: 245
    #7
    lindatn said:

    Susan, The reason she did the tumor marker is because I am in a new cancer treatment center. I had been at Vanderbilt but they no longer would take the state insurance I have. I was very unhappy at having to change care and of course no longer see my team there. The cancer center said not to worry but easy for them to say and she didn't change my appointment for any earlier so I don't know. It does seem this test leaves a lot to be disired. MD Anderson doesn't do it either and apparently neither does Vanderbilt. I will check and see if my GP had done this marker before he sent me to Vanderbilt of course that was right when they found the cancer. This whole thing is a jounery I would rather of not taken. Husband has had prostate cancer treatment a PSA of 60 and has refused any PSA testing since. He says when he has a problem he will then have it checked out, he might be right. Linda

    Hi Linda. You asked for the test to be done earlier and she said no? What I would do is check out the websites like Ink suggests below and print out information that supports what you're asking for. Then show it to her and request that it be done when you want it. Remember, these folks are working for you, they should listen to you. It's a new place so start out with a take charge attitude. We'll be here to back you up!
    Susan
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #8
    inkblot said:

    Hi LindaTN:

    My guess is that you probably don't need to worry too much but as others have suggested, request that your doc repeat the test sooner than scheduled. At least you can see if there has been any change.

    Tumor markers are just tools docs are trying to learn to use. Problem is that there are so many variables, it's impossible to really rely on them. Some women have reccurence or mets and no change in markers. Others have experienced a jump in markers for no reason which can ever be found. Many different things can effect the numbers...not just cancer. And it's true that 38 is considered normal. (Anything between 0 and 38)

    There are several different marker tests being used. Just type in the test you had (such as CA27-29) on a good search engine and you should get lots of info which may help to ease your mind that you numbers are not out of range. Since you never had a post treatment baseline marker done, there's nothing for comparison. 38 may be what your normal is going to be?

    Try to relax a bit. Get the doc in gear for retesting at an earlier date and feel better soon.

    Love, light and laughter,
    Ink

    Not sure they really mean anything. Mine went up in 8/01 and we found a bone met, went back to normal by 11/01, then started rising again 12/01. It is now at 187...go figure. All studies so far are clear, it's just steadily been going up since 12/01. I tease them and say "wish my stocks would go up so much!" LOL
    God bless.
    hummingbyrd
  • Babyzenne
    Babyzenne Member Posts: 2
    #9
    Linda, I was treated for stag 3 breast cancer in Dec.of2002. My onoc does a tumor marker every 6 months . And I have a mamograham every 6 mo. and they told me I would do that fro the 1st three years. Then tumor marker every 6 mo up to 5 yrs. My tumor is 36 and they told me that was good. Bobbie in Ms. God be with you.

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