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DeenaH · 12-19-2010, 12:13 AM

I am pretty sure it's the CA-27? I know so little about this, but my onc does draw them every 3 months, and has from the beginning. During chemo and even right before surgery (which pathology proved there was still alot of cancer left), my tumor markers were about 25. My last tumor marker test a few weeks ago showed them at 14. I know lower is good, but does that mean there is even less cancer in my body? Will it ever be 0? I am very happy with a drop since surgery because I hope that means the Herceptin is working and that we got the rest with surgery.

I know we can't put too much stock into 1 tumor marker test, but I thought some of you ladies who are educated about tumor markers could educate me a little. Are there an other tests I should be asking for regularly? Is every 3 months enough? I asked my onc if she would run them more often and she said she won't.

12-19-2010, 12:13 AM	#1
DeenaH Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 129	Question about tumor markers I am pretty sure it's the CA-27? I know so little about this, but my onc does draw them every 3 months, and has from the beginning. During chemo and even right before surgery (which pathology proved there was still alot of cancer left), my tumor markers were about 25. My last tumor marker test a few weeks ago showed them at 14. I know lower is good, but does that mean there is even less cancer in my body? Will it ever be 0? I am very happy with a drop since surgery because I hope that means the Herceptin is working and that we got the rest with surgery. I know we can't put too much stock into 1 tumor marker test, but I thought some of you ladies who are educated about tumor markers could educate me a little. Are there an other tests I should be asking for regularly? Is every 3 months enough? I asked my onc if she would run them more often and she said she won't. __________________ March 2010: Diagnosed with Stage IIIC IDC with axillary, mammary and suplaclavicular node involvement. ER/PR -, HER2+++. 7cm tumor in right breast. April 2010: Started neoadjuvent chemo. 4 DD A/C every 2 weeks, 4 DD Taxotere every 3 weeks with Herceptin weekly. August 2010: Finished chemo! August 20, 2010: PET/CT showed no cancer in any nodes, and only a little uptake to the breast. September 9, 2010: Bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with implants and Alloderm. September 16, 2010: Pathology report showed 18/51 positive axillary nodes, 3.2cm tumor. Granual sized cancer found in the fatty tissue between levels 1 and 2. October 19, 2010: CT showed several spots on lungs and 1 spot on liver. Liver spot is 2mm, lung spots range from 2mm to 4mm. We don't know if they are cancer or not. 12/15/10: Brain MRI clear 1/7/11: PET/CT 1/13/11: Recurrence in lungs. Start Tykerb 5/13/11: Progression in lungs 6/3/11: Lung surgery to get tumors for chemosensitivity testing.