|
View Poll Results: Would you prefer to be offered the choice to have periodic routine markers?
|
|
YES
|
   
|
80 |
93.02% |
|
NO
|
  
|
3 |
3.49% |
|
MAYBE
|
  
|
3 |
3.49% |
 |
|
03-30-2008, 10:27 AM
|
#21
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Marengo, IL
Posts: 518
|
Hi Ruth,
Read AlaskaAngels post on this topic about 9 up from your post. Tumor markers are different than the routine blood tests you seem to be getting. Look at your blood tests results for CA125, CEA, CA 15-3. Many onc's. do not offer them unless there is an issue and rely on symptoms rather than tumor markers.
I was not getting them but developed several small nodules in the lungs (pretty sure they are from radiation) 13 months out. Now I will have markers done every 6 months. Still not sure how I feel about them. They came back fine the first time. Getting them done again in June and I am already concerned about the results.
I am sure others with more knowledge than I have will also answer your post and explain it better.
Sounds like you are doing great. What cute kids!
Donna
__________________
Donna
Crystal Lake, IL
Diagnosed 8/4/06 at age 54
Lumpectomy 8/30/06
Stage llA, grade 3, ER/PR-, Her2++
1.7 cm tumor, 1+ lymph node out of 9
Completed 4 A/C, & 4 Taxol with Herceptin
36 rads completed 5/16/07
Mammograms, 7/07 clear
fractured ribs in radiated area 10/07
Finished Herceptin 12/27/07
Mammogram,CT,tumor markers 1/08 - small lung nodules in radiated area, repeated tests 3/08 stable
Mammogram,CT ,tumor markers 6/08 stable
NED 2 years!!
3 years !!!
4years!!!!
4 years, 10 months and 8 day NED, calling it 5 years!!!
Official 5 years 8/30/2011
8/31/ 2012 - 6 years!!!!!!
Last edited by DonnaD; 03-30-2008 at 10:44 AM..
|
|
|
|
03-30-2008, 03:19 PM
|
#22
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Detroit Metropolitan Area, Michigan
Posts: 592
|
|
|
|
|
|
03-30-2008, 07:03 PM
|
#23
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,519
|
Ruth, markers would be a blood test that is separate from the CBC and Chemistry(which includes liver function) - it is usually called the CA 15.3 or CA 27.29... some doctors choose not to follow tumor markers, especially if you have not had recurrence.
My doc follows my CA 15.3, and it is staying 100% stable for the last 9 months... I am thrilled, because my TMs are always a very important indicator for us when I have had new activity.
__________________
Brenda
NOV 2012 - 9 yr anniversary
JULY 2012 - 7 yr anniversary stage IV (of 50...)
Nov'03~ dX stage 2B
Dec'03~ Rt side mastectomy, Her2+, ER/PR+, 10 nodes out, one node positive
Jan'04~ Taxotere/Adria/Cytoxan x 6, NED, no Rads, Tamox. 1 year, Arimadex 3 mo., NED 14 mo.
Sept'05~ micro mets lungs/chest nodes/underarm node, Switched to Aromasin, T/C/H x 7, NED 6 months - Herceptin only
Aug'06~ micro mets chest nodes, & bone spot @ C3 neck, Added Taxol to Herceptin
Feb'07~ Genetic testing, BRCA 1&2 neg
Apr'07~ MRI - two 9mm brain mets & 5 punctates, new left chest met, & small increase of bone spot C3 neck, Stopped Aromasin
May'07~ Started Tykerb/Xeloda, no WBR for now
June'07~ MRI - stable brain mets, no new mets, 9mm spots less enhanced, CA15.3 down 45.5 to 9.3 in 10 wks, Ty/Xel working magic!
Aug'07~ MRI - brain mets shrunk half, NO NEW BRAIN METS!!, TMs stable @ 9.2
Oct'07~ PET/CT & MRI show NED
Apr'08~ scans still show NED in the head, small bone spot on right iliac crest (rear pelvic bone)
Sept'08~ MRI shows activity in brain mets, completed 5 fractions/5 consecutive days of IMRT to zap the pesky buggers
Oct'08~ dropped Xeloda, switched to tri-weekly Herceptin in combo with Tykerb, extend to tri-monthly Zometa infusion
Dec'08~ Brain MRI- 4 spots reduced to punctate size, large spot shrunk by 3mm, CT of torso clear/pelvis spot stable
June'09~ new 3-4mm left cerrebellar spot zapped with IMRT targeted rads
Sept'09~ new 6mm & 1 cm spots in pituitary/optic chiasm area. Rx= 25 days of 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the tumors.
Oct'09~ 25 days of low dose 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the bone mets spot on rt. iliac crest that have been watching for 2 years. Added daily Aromasin back into treatment regimen.
Apr'10~ Brain MRI clear! But, see new small spot on adrenal gland. Change from Aromasin back to Tamoxifen.
June'10~ Tumor markers (CA15.3) dropped from 37 to 23 after one month on Tamoxifen. Continue to monitor adrenal gland spot. Remain on Tykerb/Herceptin/Tamoxifen.
Nov'10~ Radiate positive mediastinal node that was pressing on recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing paralyzed larynx and a funny voice.
Jan'11~ MRI shows possible activity or perhaps just scar tissue/necrotic increase on 3 previously treated brain spots and a pituitary spot. 5 days of IMRT on 4 spots.
Feb'11~ Enrolled in T-DM1 EAP in Denver, first treatment March 25, 2011.
Mar'11~ Finally started T-DM1 EAP in Denver at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center/Rose on Mar. 25... hallelujah.
"I would rather be anecdotally alive than statistically dead."
|
|
|
|
|
03-30-2008, 07:18 PM
|
#24
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Watkinsville, Georgia
Posts: 356
|
Ladies ~ thank you so much! I went and read Alaska's post. I guess my Oncologist is one of the ones who relies on symptoms. I was tested so much the first two years with scans and things I didn't question about blood tests other than was I good to have chemo? I did always ask about CBC results. This site is truly the best one out there.
Two of the kids are welcome additions with my new hubby. We are just loving having such a full house although I tell you the food bill has gone through the roof!
Hugs ~ Ruth
__________________
[/SIGPIC]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diagnosed 6/03 nursing daughter
Dose dense A/C 4x
Modified rad mast 8/03
IDC; 3 cm; 10+/16 nodes; ER/PR-; Her2+++
Weekly taxol w/Herceptin (off label) 12x's
40 weeks Herceptin
Radiation 33x
Reconstruction w/ implants 05 & 07
NED
|
|
|
|
|
03-31-2008, 12:22 AM
|
#25
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
|
Ruth, your CBC and liver function tests are not the markers they are all talking about. See AlaskaAngels's post in this thread to see a discription of the markers.
harriecanarie
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
|
|
|
|
|
04-02-2008, 09:01 PM
|
#26
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
|
Tumor Markers
Definitely YES.
|
|
|
|
|
04-15-2008, 07:05 PM
|
#27
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southeast Texas
Posts: 18
|
My new onc. orders them, and even thought they may not be that reliable, I still will have it done along with my other lab work. Why not?
__________________
Diagnosed April 28, 2006.
IDC 0.2 mm
DCIS 0.3 mm
Er/Pr+
Her2+
No chemo, no radiation, No Herceptin
Only Femara for 16 more months
DSH=Definately Still Here.
NED as of January 2010.
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:26 PM.
|
Linear Mode
