Hello all

lovonna
lovonna Member Posts: 78
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Haven't posted for quite some time but trust me have not forgotten about any of you here at this wonderful board that helped me so very much!

I am scheduled for something called a "tumors markers" test in a couple of weeks. What is this?

Hugs, LoVonna

Comments

  • elizagain
    elizagain Member Posts: 43
    #2
    Hi, it's where they test for a certain element (protein or something) in your blood to see if there is any activity. However, it's not a very precise test. As my doctor once explained, it is very sensitive, but not specific. That means that people who never had and never will have cancer could test "positively" on these tests.
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #3
    elizagain said:

    Hi, it's where they test for a certain element (protein or something) in your blood to see if there is any activity. However, it's not a very precise test. As my doctor once explained, it is very sensitive, but not specific. That means that people who never had and never will have cancer could test "positively" on these tests.

    When they were concerned I might have ovarian cancer after breast cancer, they gave me one of those tests. They mentioned that if the number rose on the second test, it may mean I might have a problem. If the number fell during treatment, it may mean that treatment was accomplishing something. The test with a physical exam was better than a physical exam alone, but it was far from "proof" that anything was really okay or not okay. I looked up what my results meant by putting my tumor marker term (CA125 I think) into a search engine like Google. That took me right to several medical websites that explained the cutoffs and general meaning of the test. Try it for your test and see what you get.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #4
    Hey, dearheart! So good to hear from you!

    I have been gone recently, too....

    Tumor markers are just blood tests to see what levels certain indicators are at that COULD be a sign of the beast. Each cancer has different ones...I get both the CEA for the colon cancer and the CA19 for the breast...
    These are good indicators in some people, but for my colon cancer, my CEA stayed below 1.0 the whole time...so, I just watch it as a trend....if it goes up, my onc and I will react....

    BIG HUGS, Kathi
  • lovonna
    lovonna Member Posts: 78
    #5
    Thank you for the responses everyone! I have not stepped foot into a clinic or hospital in 2007 and gee does it ever feel great!

    Know I need to go for my rechecks though and I will, just get a little nervous the closer the date gets. I am watching my diet closer than I ever did in the past and excercising at least 3 times a week. The excercise helps the shoulder pain I was left with after the radiation, plus I am sure my body benefits from it.

    God Bless, Hugs, LoVonna

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