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Mary Anne in TX · 08-18-2012, 10:05 AM

Kristin, tumor markers are accurate for some and wacky for others. My track record showed them to be accurate for me, but not by the exact number. Maybe if you just looked at the range of numbers, 10 - 20 pts. or something, it would make you see if differently. The lowest mine ever got was about 26 or 27 I think. It was 31 last time and 37 the time before. But we had tracked it for so many years that my onc. and I both thought it was good to have my port removed. I'm believing like a "it's gone for now" person. I think a bunch of things make it fluctuate. It's just a tool. Think of all the people on this site who have a test that looks like the cancer is back and it turns out to be something else. Give yourself a week more to worry about it and then get on with having some fun! Plan something you really enjoy. ma

08-18-2012, 10:05 AM	#4
Mary Anne in TX Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,357	Re: Obsessed with tumor marker number? Kristin, tumor markers are accurate for some and wacky for others. My track record showed them to be accurate for me, but not by the exact number. Maybe if you just looked at the range of numbers, 10 - 20 pts. or something, it would make you see if differently. The lowest mine ever got was about 26 or 27 I think. It was 31 last time and 37 the time before. But we had tracked it for so many years that my onc. and I both thought it was good to have my port removed. I'm believing like a "it's gone for now" person. I think a bunch of things make it fluctuate. It's just a tool. Think of all the people on this site who have a test that looks like the cancer is back and it turns out to be something else. Give yourself a week more to worry about it and then get on with having some fun! Plan something you really enjoy. ma __________________ MA in TX. Grateful for each and every day.... Diag. 12/05 at age 60 Stage II, Grade 3, 4.5 cm primary tumor ER/PR- Her2 +3 strongly positive Her2 by FISH 7.7 amplified vascular invasion Ki67 20% borderline Jan - March '06 Taxotere/Adriamycin X 3 to try to shrink tumor - it grew April '06 Rt Modified Radical Mas, 7 of 9 nodes positive April - Aug. '06 Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin X 8 (dose dense) Sept - Dec. '06 Navelbine/Herceptin x 8 (dose dense) Radiation & Herceptin Jan. 22 - March 1, 2007 Finished Herceptin Dec. 10 '08! One extra year. Port removed August, 2012. 8 1/2 years since diagnosis! 5 1/2 Years NED!