CA blood markers and secondary mets

Barbara53
Barbara53 Member Posts: 652
edited March 2014 in Caregivers #1
My mother’s cancer (ovarian) is monitored in part with a blood marker, CA125. I know other cancers have markers with other CA numbers, so I thought some of you might know the answer to my question. When the primary cancer metastasizes and secondary cancer grows in new locations like bone, is the secondary cancer’s activity reflected in the CA numbers?

I just got back from an 11-day caregiver stint, and it looks to me like Mom’s cancer is progressing even though salvage chemo is keeping her CA125 numbers down. Can this be? We have an appointment with a palliative care physician next week, and both Mom and I are excited about getting some help with pain management and other problems, but I think it might scare her if I asked this question in front of her. She thinks she will get better when the salvage chemo is over. Sigh.

Comments

  • Luv2lunch
    Luv2lunch Member Posts: 270
    #2
    Hi Barb,
    I'm sorry about
    Hi Barb,
    I'm sorry about your Mom. I don't have any answers, just wanted you to know I will be praying for you both. I'm sure you are exhausted from your "stint". Please take care of yourself.
    My Mom also does not want to know specifics when it comes to her disease. She was told that after the chemo in November she should be fine and continue with the rest of her life. Well, I have been doing research and reading posts and it seems it would be a miracle if that happened. Like you, I do not share any of this with her. I will take the brunt of the worry and let her be happy for as long as possible :)
    I hope someone has the answers to your questions.
    Thinking of you both,
    Linda
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Barbara53
    Barbara53 Member Posts: 652
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    long story
    Kathy, my mother just turned 80, and has been battling stage 3c/4 ovarian cancer for almost two years. She completed first-line chemo, stayed stable for a few months, then had a lesion removed laparacopically, then went on a hormone-based oral chemo, and then had to go back to cisplatin (8 rounds) to which avastin (which acts on the circulatory system) was added. Two more rounds and she's out of options for several months. She can continue on the avastin, but I think it's the carbo that's kicking the cancer, albeit not very hard.

    Mom has growths shown on PT scan in her right chest wall, and she develops pain there between chemo cycles. She also has had severe neck pain between the last two chemo cycles, and has occasionally complained of severe bloating. Worst of all, she has a very, very painful something going on in her left foot, which has defied treatment by orthopedist, lymphedema therapist, podiatrist, and oncologist. If it's not a distal met, I'm a monkey's uncle.

    The details don't really matter at this point, but I'm finding that putting together palliative care is even more complicated than going for the cure! Next week when I'm back down there (750 mile commute) my brothers and I will start arranging home care of some kind. She wants to stay at home, but she's losing ground.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #5
    Barbara53 said:

    long story
    Kathy, my mother just turned 80, and has been battling stage 3c/4 ovarian cancer for almost two years. She completed first-line chemo, stayed stable for a few months, then had a lesion removed laparacopically, then went on a hormone-based oral chemo, and then had to go back to cisplatin (8 rounds) to which avastin (which acts on the circulatory system) was added. Two more rounds and she's out of options for several months. She can continue on the avastin, but I think it's the carbo that's kicking the cancer, albeit not very hard.

    Mom has growths shown on PT scan in her right chest wall, and she develops pain there between chemo cycles. She also has had severe neck pain between the last two chemo cycles, and has occasionally complained of severe bloating. Worst of all, she has a very, very painful something going on in her left foot, which has defied treatment by orthopedist, lymphedema therapist, podiatrist, and oncologist. If it's not a distal met, I'm a monkey's uncle.

    The details don't really matter at this point, but I'm finding that putting together palliative care is even more complicated than going for the cure! Next week when I'm back down there (750 mile commute) my brothers and I will start arranging home care of some kind. She wants to stay at home, but she's losing ground.

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

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