HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

chrisy · 06-27-2007, 02:41 PM

Julirene

My oncs are NOT believers in markers, and have always told me they are not reliable and thus I have to really push to get any. None of the BC markers have ever been any indicator for me (15.3, 29.9 or CEA) as they were not really elevated even when I had extensive liver mets. The only marker that was elevated at that time was 19.9 which is typically used for pancreatic cancer I think - but apparently can also increase with any liver, gastric, or pancreatic cancer. They only ran that one because they were thinking "unknown primary" (since they just KNEW it couldn't be BC mets!). The 19.9 was around 224 before chemo, and dropped back into normal range quickly. Last August it started to creep but was still in the normal range - but may have been an indicator of the recurrence!

Just bringing this up since you have been dealing with liver mets, its a wacky one, but may be worth checking.

06-27-2007, 02:41 PM	#13
chrisy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 3,207	Julirene My oncs are NOT believers in markers, and have always told me they are not reliable and thus I have to really push to get any. None of the BC markers have ever been any indicator for me (15.3, 29.9 or CEA) as they were not really elevated even when I had extensive liver mets. The only marker that was elevated at that time was 19.9 which is typically used for pancreatic cancer I think - but apparently can also increase with any liver, gastric, or pancreatic cancer. They only ran that one because they were thinking "unknown primary" (since they just KNEW it couldn't be BC mets!). The 19.9 was around 224 before chemo, and dropped back into normal range quickly. Last August it started to creep but was still in the normal range - but may have been an indicator of the recurrence! Just bringing this up since you have been dealing with liver mets, its a wacky one, but may be worth checking. __________________ Chris in Scotts Valley June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?" 9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++ 10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response! 04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED 04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial 06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin 01/08 Progression in liver 02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial 08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1 02/09 Continue NED 02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED 12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver 07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:( 12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:( 03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial 5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!! 8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!) 9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3 11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc 11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go. 2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go. 3/13 TACE procedure