Help with understanding tumor markers
 

Could someone explain tumor marker results to me. I had tumor markers for the first time last Wed. My onc. called Friday saying all were in the normal range. I asked for the blood tests and don't understand a thing.

Are the tumor markers CA125, CEA and CA15-3? And if so what are the normal ranges of these tests. My CA125 is 16, CEA is 0.6 and Ca15-3 is 15.9. Sometimes I feel I will never learn all there is to this disease.

Donna

http://her2support.org/tests/tm.htm

Regards
Joe

Dear Donna

The upper normal limit for CA 125 (ovarian cancer tumor marker) is either 36 or 38 (I forget) but it is one of them so you are well in range. The CA 15-3 (bc tumor marker) upper range is 38 so you are also in range.

Someone else may comment on CEA. I am also nearly certain the upper limit is 1.5 but I am NOT sure - it is 1 point something - so all is well with you I am certain.

Love to you

And the trend in the future is a potentially more refined and definite way to measure cancer in the blood - CTCs. They are already used by some oncs, but it is not the norm yet. It is an evolving science and many oncs are not yet trained on how to decipher the data. MD Anderson is starting to use them. They should be able to indicate info about treatment efficacy prior to treatment and should also be able to show whether you have b/c stem cells in the blood, which will also open new corridors for treatment...

There are so many new developments on the horizon, it makes my head spin!

Caryn's onc advised us that the normal range for CEA is 0-3. Sounds to me that your numbers are great!

Thanks! I went to the site Joe recommended and that helped alot along with your comments. I am rejoicing in good health and wish the same for all my Her2 sisters.

Donna

Re: Help with understanding tumor markers
 

I just heard from a friend that her ca15-3 is 330.0!!!! Has anyone heard of markers so high? She just had a lumpectomy three weeks ago. Her CT and bone scan came back with no dramatic news. She was node positive, but they were removed in surgery. Any explanations?

Re: Help with understanding tumor markers
 

CEA markers, where I am tested are normal when 0.0-5.0. CA 15-3 is up to 38 when normal. I was diagosed with Stage IV BC while still in normal range on 15-3. However, my CEA was 599.1.

Re: Help with understanding tumor markers
 

I asked about my "slightly" elevated CA15-3 last week. I was told that normal is from 0.5 to 25 and that mine was 28.9. I didn't get my port out over the Christmas break because of this. He wants to wait for a few months to see if it rises.

Re: Help with understanding tumor markers
 

CureToday just posted an article on CA 125:

http://www.curetoday.com/index.cfm/f...rticle_id/1667