CTC Lab Test

patsy1954
patsy1954 Member Posts: 85
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Has anyone had the CTC (circulating tumor cells) lab test? My physician started using this as a tumor marker. Had my first on 3/1 and it was 16. Had a second one on 4/5 and it was 21. I am trying not to panic but according to data on CTC tests it is a predictor of life expectancy, like they can really predict!! Anyone had this test, and what info do you have on it?

Patsy

Comments

  • C Dixon
    C Dixon Member Posts: 201
    #2
    CTC
    I don't know if it is a predictor of life expectancy; I never heard that. It tests the level of circulating cancer cells in your bloodstream. I have only had it once and it came back as a 0. However five weeks later, I went in for a liver resection and they found active disease on my diaphragm. I guess the point is that it only tests what is in your blood.

    Are you still doing chemo?

    Catherine
  • patsy1954
    patsy1954 Member Posts: 85
    #3
    CTC
    I don't know why I even look at the internet!! I was on FOLFOX from 5/09 to /09. Started on XEloda for 3 months and my cancerous lymph node grew and my liver tumors stayed the same so they started me on Folfiri on 3/22. I have had 4 rounds and they did the CTC efore round 4. My CEA went up, but only from to 43.4 to 47.4. I'm trying to convince m yself that the increase is due to tumors dying i=on the Folfiri. The other thin is that it took them 96 hrs to run the test, from blodd draw to results. I wonder if it was flawed becasue of the time lapse. I am a nurse and sometimes too much knowledge is deadly!
  • C Dixon
    C Dixon Member Posts: 201
    #4
    patsy1954 said:

    CTC
    I don't know why I even look at the internet!! I was on FOLFOX from 5/09 to /09. Started on XEloda for 3 months and my cancerous lymph node grew and my liver tumors stayed the same so they started me on Folfiri on 3/22. I have had 4 rounds and they did the CTC efore round 4. My CEA went up, but only from to 43.4 to 47.4. I'm trying to convince m yself that the increase is due to tumors dying i=on the Folfiri. The other thin is that it took them 96 hrs to run the test, from blodd draw to results. I wonder if it was flawed becasue of the time lapse. I am a nurse and sometimes too much knowledge is deadly!

    My CEA also went up after
    My CEA also went up after Round 3 on Folfiri. I freaked out because I had just had surgery and there was no visible cancer after surgery. However, I tested in the normal range 6 weeks later in another lab and have tested normal for the last two.

    It's really true when they say you can't freak out over one rise. However, that is easier said than done and I did freak out when mine came back high that time.

    Have you had any surgery?

    Catherine
  • patsy1954
    patsy1954 Member Posts: 85
    #5
    CTC
    I had colon resection in April of 09. Not a candidate for liver resection :( I did get a call from my nurse yesterday and she said that they just recently started using the CTC as a marker, so they haven't really gotten any real baseline yet. Doesn't want me to worry and they will take another one and see how it goes. My CEA is currently 49.6, up from 44.6 last month, however it had gone down to 16 when I got off the Folfox. They said that since the tumors grew when on the oral chemo that this is probably why the numbers are going up. They will assess everything, how I feel, CT scan in a month and next set of lab tests. I still worry because the darn internet says its a predictor of life expectancy. I refuse to give in to that bull!

    Patsy
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #6
    Am I dense?
    I don't understand how a CTC would work if it's a sample from a couple ounces of blood! Unless a patient had loads and loads of CTC's, how would it show up in such a small sample?
  • patsy1954
    patsy1954 Member Posts: 85
    #7
    CTC
    Apparently this test has been a great indicator for breast cancer patients, and they are now using it for colon cancer. According to the web site for the developers of the test and machine that is used for this test it is very reliable. It just angers me that they can take one test and predict who will do well on chemo and who will fail. When did they become God???? I can't put my faith in one test, and my physician and his nurse reassured me that they would NEVER rely on one blood test. They look at the whole picture. True I did not do well on Xeloda, but now waiting to see how I do on FOLFIRI.

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