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Topic: how much do ca 27.29 tests bounce?

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  • Posted on: Oct 28, 2009 08:34 pm, edited Oct 28, 2009 08:35 PM by gns
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1
gns wrote:

Hi All, I have been lurking in this great forum for several weeks.

My mother had breast cancer twice and has been getting her CA 27.29 checked every 6 months. I know it is not a reliable test, and that you are supposed to look at the trend. I was just wondering how much your markers bounced around?

Posts 1 - 5 (5 total)
marshakb
FL
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,243
Oct 29, 2009 07:46 am marshakb wrote:

gns, I think everyone is different.  Some can follow their cancer EXACTLY with tumor markers.  Others not so much.  My original dx was dec 06, mets dec 08.  I NEVER had elevated tumor markers, at all, until just recently.  My liver met started  growing on Femara, my liver enzymes went up for the first time ever as did my tumor marker.  Onc was surprised, had even started only running the marker every 3rd month since they never increased.  Still not sure we will be able to use them as anything reliable until we can see a "trend".   Hope this helps.

I'm not dead yet!
Diagnosis: ILC, Stage IV, 1/13 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
KattyC
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 13
Oct 29, 2009 08:12 pm, edited Nov 1, 2009 08:51 PM by KattyC KattyC wrote:

GNS, I am 8 years out and recently diagnosed with mets to the liver.  My tumor marker numbers were never high, and actually had been trending down.  When I asked the Onc. about it, she said the markers do not always indicate the same way for each person.  My best advice is to follow one's progress closely, make sure scans are done as regulary as indicated, and monitor your health.  I complained in late August of chest soreness and breast lumps which happened to be associated with my period and benign, BUT it warranted a CT and bone scan which actually found my mets.  Best wishes to you and your Mom. 

   


Diagnosis: 10/23/2009, 1cm, Stage IV, ER+/PR+
Duffymom
MN
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 167
Nov 13, 2009 10:25 pm Duffymom wrote:

Mine were in the normal range when I had my initial diagnosis in July 06.  With my reoccurance they've still been low, mid 40's to 60.  For me, not a good indicator.


Diagnosis: 10/2008, IDC, 6cm+, Stage IV, Grade 3, 0/12 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2-
Chelee
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,012
Nov 14, 2009 02:20 am Chelee wrote:

 My markers seem to be a good indicator for me.  They always ran around 15 to 18....then they slowly started inching up every 3 months when we checked them.  They finally got over the reference range of 38 and I put my foot down and told my onc to run a PET/CT.  We found out I did recur.  Tumor markers seem to either work really good for some...or not at all for the others.  TM'ers should be used as one piece of the puzzle.  If they start going up and NOT back down...it's time to have scans. 

But they can go up for benign reasons too...thats why it's only one piece of the puzzle to be used as a tool with everything else.  But I will say they are dead on with me.  If yours go up and back down...I wouldn't worry too much...only if they keep climbing with no decrease.

 Chelee

Dx 12-05, Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++, Er & Pr pos, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Diagnosis: 12/20/2005, IDC, 3cm, Stage IV, Grade 3, 5/16 nodes, mets, ER+/PR+, HER2+
Marybe
Cincinnati, OH
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 403
Nov 14, 2009 05:18 am Marybe wrote:

  I would be happy if mine were 38,  Right now mine have gone to 73 and in Oct they were 52,  However, considering they were in the 300s before doing chemo in Feb, I consider myself to be in better shape now than I was then cancerwise.  So regarding the original question re  the CA 27/29, it all depends on the person.  Even though my onco has told me from the beginning that it is not a completely accurate test, it has always been a good indicator for me when something has been going on if the numbers went up.Cheele is absolutely correct in saying they are only one piece in the puzzle.  Even when the markers have gone up, sometimes my scans have shown no changes and my onco goes on the scans more than the CA27/29 results.  Sorry if I have only added to your confusion, but it is different for each person.  Antibiotics, infection, many things can affect them, but in my case as I said they have always been a good indicator that there is a change going on. 

Marybe
Diagnosis: 4/1998, IDC, Stage IV, 0/19 nodes, mets, ER+/PR+, HER2-

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