meds that affect ca27.29

CherylS · 09-25-2006, 10:43 AM

Well, here I am in 'freak out" mode again. Last week my ca27.29 went to 37 from 30. The times before it was 32, 28, 27. I know they jump around, but 37 jolted me a little as it is so close to the 38 that is the top of normal. So, I saw my onc today and she said she was going to do them every six weeks for four times. When I asked her if she was doing this just to make me feel better she said "No, I need them too." She cushioned it with "I like to prove myself right, and I am confident it will go back down". So now I am here working up coping mechanisms to get me by for the next six weeks. Don't want to keep rehearsing the "what if" they keep going up.

My question is this. I have read here before that some medications can elevate the 27.29 such as anti-depressants. I am weaning myself off of Celexa for that reason. (Bad timing). I am also on Lipitor, Arimidex, and some Vicodin for joint pain. I am going to be starting Celebrex now to see if it helps with the joint pain, but it wouldn't have been a factor in this last marker.

Can anyone comment on the affect of any of these meds on markers?

Thanks!

tousled1 · 09-25-2006, 10:48 AM

Cheryl,

Your CA27-29 can and will be affected by many things, drugs being one of them. Also, if you have a slight infection going on. My oncologist will do the test any time I ask for it but she does not put too much emphasis on them. According to her they are unreliable. I know it's difficult not to think about the result of the test and what the next one will be but remember you have lots of support from the women/men on this board.

Christine · 09-25-2006, 11:10 AM

Cheryl
Ask your Onc to give you the her2 serum test to monitor your progress during chemo. It can show the effectiveness of the treatments and help you and theonc decide what is going on as an added back up to other Ca marker tests like the Ca 27- 29. Stable is below 15. I am using this test to monitor me for any future progression, even though I have been NED(no evidence of disease ) for 6 yrs. Quest labs have the test. It is a simple blood test that meaures th her2neu gene in your blood.

Warm hugs, Christine