High tumor markers

Hope_Faith
Hope_Faith Member Posts: 150
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi all,
Well, it looks like my hubby's cancer is back :(

He was diagnosed a year ago last Aug '09. He had chemo and radiation prior to his surgery last Dec.'09. He had chemo following surgery -- after he healed from C-diff which he contracted it from UCLA. He has only been off chemo for 7 months and his last blood work showed a slight elevation in his CEA levels. So, they did a blood test to check his tumor markers and were told they are very high. 179 and normal is 35. So, we are back in the battle to fight this horrible cancer once again. He had a CT scan done yesterday, Fri. Nov 5th. Hoping for results on Monday.
What's weird is, his PET, CT, brain, colonoscoy, and endoscope he had done in Sept. all came back clear, so we're a little surprised by this news.

He was only 39 at time of diagnoses. He just turned 41 on Nov. 1st, the day his oncologist told him about his tumor markers. We have two girls, ages 9 and 5. We're not giving up and we are fighting. I am researching all I can. I am very encouraged about the Her2 gene test and the KRAS test. I will be asking his Dr. about those on Monday.

I also think he should do a bone scan because that's something they haven't done yet. Do you guys think so too? What else do I need to ask the dr? Am I missing anything?

~Shelly

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
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  • Hope_Faith
    Hope_Faith Member Posts: 150
    #3
    unknown said:

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    Thank you
    Hi William~
    Thank you for your response and for remembering us :)

    Our insurance only did neck to pelvis CT scan. They refused PET scan, but I feel I need to fight this. Maybe if something shows on the CT they will do the PET. Charley had PET, CT, brain, colonscopy and endoscope done in Sept. so they feel it is to soon to check again (insurance, not dr.)
    We are currently awaiting results from his CT and tumor markers to see if they have gone up even more. The tumor markers were at 179 in October.
    I will ask dr. about bone scan and if he's HER2 gene positive.

    Thanks again,
    Shelly
  • Hope_Faith
    Hope_Faith Member Posts: 150
    #4
    Hope_Faith said:

    Thank you
    Hi William~
    Thank you for your response and for remembering us :)

    Our insurance only did neck to pelvis CT scan. They refused PET scan, but I feel I need to fight this. Maybe if something shows on the CT they will do the PET. Charley had PET, CT, brain, colonscopy and endoscope done in Sept. so they feel it is to soon to check again (insurance, not dr.)
    We are currently awaiting results from his CT and tumor markers to see if they have gone up even more. The tumor markers were at 179 in October.
    I will ask dr. about bone scan and if he's HER2 gene positive.

    Thanks again,
    Shelly

    UPDATE
    My hubby's oncologist cannot find any cancer in my hubby's body even though the blood work came back with even higher tumor markers (279 now). His oncologist said that sometimes this happens and they don't know why.
    So, for now, and hopefully forever, my hubby is still cancer free :)
    Thanks be to God!
    I just wanted to share this good news.
    ~Shelly

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