HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Routine marker testing and recurrence... worth it?

Barbara2 · 10-26-2007, 08:10 PM

Are tumor markers reliable?

Question from Ruth: Do tumor markers in the blood always show if breast cancer has spread and/or if you have developed another separate cancer?
Answer:
Larry Norton:

Tumor markers in the blood are helpful but not definitive. Some patients can have growing disease and the markers do not become elevated. Others have elevated markers but no disease. Tumor markers are often a source of anxiety that is unnecessary because they are helpful, but not absolute in terms of their meaning. For this reason, tumor marker results have to be interpreted by an expert oncologist.

(Larry Norton, M.D. is Deputy Physician-in-Chief and director of breast cancer programs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.)

10-26-2007, 08:10 PM	#86
Barbara2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South Dakota. Posts: 621	Are tumor markers reliable? Question from Ruth: Do tumor markers in the blood always show if breast cancer has spread and/or if you have developed another separate cancer? Answer: Larry Norton: Tumor markers in the blood are helpful but not definitive. Some patients can have growing disease and the markers do not become elevated. Others have elevated markers but no disease. Tumor markers are often a source of anxiety that is unnecessary because they are helpful, but not absolute in terms of their meaning. For this reason, tumor marker results have to be interpreted by an expert oncologist. (Larry Norton, M.D. is Deputy Physician-in-Chief and director of breast cancer programs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.) __________________ Blessings and Peace, Barbara DX Oct 02 @ age 52 Stage 2B Grade 3 Mastectomy "at least" 4.5 cm IDC 1+node ER+61% /PR- Assiciated Intraductual component with Comedo Necrosis Her2+ FISH8.6 IHC 2+ 5 1/2 CEF Arimidex Celebrex 400mg daily for 13 months Prophylactic mastectomy Estradiol #: 13 PTEN positive, "late" Herceptin (26 months after chemo) Oct 05: Actonel for osteopenia from Arimidex. May 08: Replaced Actonel with Zometa . Taking every 6 months. Accepting the gift of life, I give thanks for it and live it in fullness.