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My tumor markers have never been reliable - 15.3 at diagnosis of Stage IIIc and hasn't changed much in either direction since then. The marker that we are using in conjunction with symptoms and scans is my HER2 serum marker test. My oncologist has found that my HER2 serum level is very sensitive and a slight change in it indicates a need to look into things. Everyone one is different when it comes to tumor markers. For some women it is a fisrt indication that something is going on and for others a rise or fall means nothing. There are so many things that can affect the results of tumor markers that it is difficult to solely rely on them as a prognostic tool. The women whose markers are sensitive are very fortunate.
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Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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