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

Carolyns · 10-14-2007, 12:51 PM

I have had them run for 19 years since the first of 3 times with BC. At age 32 with my diagnosis I demanded continued follow up beyond 5 years. I figured if they were mandated in the trial...why not continue? Each time I went for more than 5 years with NED. Recently (the past 7 years) my insurance company no longer allowed my onc. to do the blood draw. I had to go through my primary and then he was to send results to the oncologist. Well evidently when my markers started to rise no one noticed. So even in this case my markers would have given us the heads up that something was up.

So, I believe that markers are a good thing to follow and were in my case. I would add to that that it is a good idea to confirm that no news is good news on any test. Had I asked about my markers then I would have known that they were on the rise and I could have pushed for more testing earlier.

Good luck, Carolyn

10-14-2007, 12:51 PM	#3
Carolyns Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Florida Posts: 477	I have had them run for 19 years since the first of 3 times with BC. At age 32 with my diagnosis I demanded continued follow up beyond 5 years. I figured if they were mandated in the trial...why not continue? Each time I went for more than 5 years with NED. Recently (the past 7 years) my insurance company no longer allowed my onc. to do the blood draw. I had to go through my primary and then he was to send results to the oncologist. Well evidently when my markers started to rise no one noticed. So even in this case my markers would have given us the heads up that something was up. So, I believe that markers are a good thing to follow and were in my case. I would add to that that it is a good idea to confirm that no news is good news on any test. Had I asked about my markers then I would have known that they were on the rise and I could have pushed for more testing earlier. Good luck, Carolyn