[Believe51]

You know, Harrie, I was thinking about this a little awhile ago but I was consumed trying to clean out my pm box. How is that rash?

I just wanted to say that when there is a change for so many consecutive results a doctor will proceed with testing further. These tm tests are not cheap but are a great way to measure what is going on in the body. Some doctors truely do not put that much stock into them and there may be a cost issue involved with others reasonings. It is meaningful for us to realize the great importance of these tests, one would know if they are tm sensitive by the other weights and measures used in conjuction vs the results. These tm tests have allowed Ed to act faster than waiting for symptoms (ex: his brain) and there is no time to waste....he was diagnosed at stage IV. His tumor markers rose with every cancer rise even before a MRI spotted the brain mets or the bone scan noticed the new mets. I am very religious about these blood tests because they have allowed us to save some of the time we are fighting for. Ed is very very tumor marker sensitive and I am thankful for learning this. I firmly believe he is still alive today because of our proactiveness.

Other factors do play with that number but not that great of a difference. IMO, I would say 'slight'. We should all find out if we are tm sensitive and fight for these blood tests if we are. We fight for so many things, we find out so much information.....why would we not want to know if we are TMS?? We should all be as proactive as possible.

I am not trying to worry anyone, these are all just my experiences. I would never let Ed go more that 4 weeks without a test. He is Stage IV, Her2+++, Inflammatory and Male breast cancer, so there is nothing he could add to his disease that would make it more aggressive than that!

If anyone is uncomfortable with or without the tm tests please approach your doctor and discuss this matter. Again Harrie, you are looking great and I did not mean to ramble on and on. I just know that these tm have saved my husbands valuable time and this thread could save someone else's. Your diagnosis is not solely based on this bloodwork.>>Believe51

PS: Even when Ed knows he is having a reoccurence and the tm have risen into the hundreds, the OncoMan will still proceed with caution and gather much proof before acting, only with extreme speed and grace.