HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Routine marker testing and recurrence... worth it?

StephN · 10-15-2007, 12:06 PM

Hi Beans -
The CA 125 is to detect Ovarian cancer. I have had this drawn with no opposition from my med onc. Once we have ONE cancer, we are at HIGHER risk for a second cancer to come along. Reproductive cancers are high on that list. So, I consider that I at least have a base line for the 125 with two tests reading at the same level.
One thing I am not sure of is whether Ovarian is normally more hormone driven.

As for the BC markers and CEA, they have always been good indicators for me. Before we really knew that to be the case, my med onc explained he wanted to keep checking them as the favorite places for BC mets were more sensitive to the markers (as stated in the research cited by Marcia) and with my more aggressive disease profile he wanted to keep me close on his radar screen.

The CEA marker was sensitive to my brain mets and CA27-29 rose and fell with my extensive liver mets.

In short, if the onc is aware of how best to use the markers and what they are best at indicating, they might not be so mistrustful. We also have the HER2 serum test, which may not be approved for early stagers, but many of us have put it to good use since its release.

10-15-2007, 12:06 PM	#8
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	The old "are markers reliable" question Hi Beans - The CA 125 is to detect Ovarian cancer. I have had this drawn with no opposition from my med onc. Once we have ONE cancer, we are at HIGHER risk for a second cancer to come along. Reproductive cancers are high on that list. So, I consider that I at least have a base line for the 125 with two tests reading at the same level. One thing I am not sure of is whether Ovarian is normally more hormone driven. As for the BC markers and CEA, they have always been good indicators for me. Before we really knew that to be the case, my med onc explained he wanted to keep checking them as the favorite places for BC mets were more sensitive to the markers (as stated in the research cited by Marcia) and with my more aggressive disease profile he wanted to keep me close on his radar screen. The CEA marker was sensitive to my brain mets and CA27-29 rose and fell with my extensive liver mets. In short, if the onc is aware of how best to use the markers and what they are best at indicating, they might not be so mistrustful. We also have the HER2 serum test, which may not be approved for early stagers, but many of us have put it to good use since its release. __________________ "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.