Tumor Markers
 

Has anyone here had tumor markers while they were on radiation? I had mine done and the nurse called with the results today. It was within normal limits, but she seemed surprised that it was a little higher than she expected (20.3). My hip has been bothering me since before Thanksgiving, so they ordered the markers and a bone scan. When I went to the rad. oncologist yesterday, he was concerned and did a CT scan, and seemed feel that it was Ok and that I had pulled a muscle. My onc. still wants the bone scan- don't know why. The nurse did say that radiation can raise the markers. Is this a high first reading? I have seen where others seem to be a lot lower (7, 11, etc). Wouldn't a CT scan of the hip be good enough to rule out disease?

Thanks, Kelly

Don't put much faith into tumor markers. When I was first diagnosed (Stage III) my marker was 15.3 and about half way through treatment it went up to 32 and then back down to 15 where it remains. I now get the serum HER2 test every 12 weeks which seems much more reliable.