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Chelee · 12-19-2010, 02:57 AM

DeenaH,
I have my CA27.29 ran every 3 months. Not all onc's run TMer tests because they aren't reliable for everyone--they are just one piece of the puzzle...a tool to be used. For some of us they are a really good indicator that our cancer is back. The first time my CA27.29 inched up over almost a yrs time we found my cancer had returned...so we know it works for me.

But there are alot of ppl that have had their cancer return and their CA27.29 will be in the normal range...so again...you can't just go by markers. After reading your post it sounds like they may work well for you? They dropped since you have had your surgery and started Herceptin. And it is the norm to run your CA27.29 every 3 months unless you recur then they might do them more frequently. For me I usually don't get caught up in the number...it's more they way they are trending. If mine just inch up and never drop back down...it means progression for me. Anything under 38 they say is good depending on your labs reference range? But for now if I was you I'd be very happy with 14.

I have added a link to Dr. Susan Loves site that might be helpful for you.

http://www.dslrf.org/mwh/content.asp?L2=2&L3=8&SID=132&CID=591&PID=0

Chelee

12-19-2010, 02:57 AM	#2
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Re: Question about tumor markers DeenaH, I have my CA27.29 ran every 3 months. Not all onc's run TMer tests because they aren't reliable for everyone--they are just one piece of the puzzle...a tool to be used. For some of us they are a really good indicator that our cancer is back. The first time my CA27.29 inched up over almost a yrs time we found my cancer had returned...so we know it works for me. But there are alot of ppl that have had their cancer return and their CA27.29 will be in the normal range...so again...you can't just go by markers. After reading your post it sounds like they may work well for you? They dropped since you have had your surgery and started Herceptin. And it is the norm to run your CA27.29 every 3 months unless you recur then they might do them more frequently. For me I usually don't get caught up in the number...it's more they way they are trending. If mine just inch up and never drop back down...it means progression for me. Anything under 38 they say is good depending on your labs reference range? But for now if I was you I'd be very happy with 14. I have added a link to Dr. Susan Loves site that might be helpful for you. http://www.dslrf.org/mwh/content.asp?L2=2&L3=8&SID=132&CID=591&PID=0 Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.