HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

StephN · 07-26-2007, 07:30 PM

Once my fast progression was getting under control, my med onc decided to test my CEA. It was done a few weeks in a row along with the CA27-29, which had been a good marker for me. They correlated.

Once these markers got into their normal ranges, and I was brewing a couple of brain mets, only the CEA rose that time. I had two distinct brain tumors and not the scattered pinpoint kind.

To this day even my new med onc feels we need to check both markers every 6 weeks as the CEA was so indicative of my brain mets. BTW - it was .6 last time, so we are not looking for any active brain mets when I have the MRI next week.

I know some new and better markers are in development. Hope they will do better for you, Kate!

07-26-2007, 07:30 PM	#5
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Two markers Once my fast progression was getting under control, my med onc decided to test my CEA. It was done a few weeks in a row along with the CA27-29, which had been a good marker for me. They correlated. Once these markers got into their normal ranges, and I was brewing a couple of brain mets, only the CEA rose that time. I had two distinct brain tumors and not the scattered pinpoint kind. To this day even my new med onc feels we need to check both markers every 6 weeks as the CEA was so indicative of my brain mets. BTW - it was .6 last time, so we are not looking for any active brain mets when I have the MRI next week. I know some new and better markers are in development. Hope they will do better for you, Kate! __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.