tumor markers
my anxiety level is volcanic lately. my mom had a massive pulmonary embolism a month ago yesterday and when they did a CT scan to figure out what might have caused the massive clots in both her legs, she only drank 1 of the 4 cups of contrast dye so it wasn't the best imagery. the doctor therefore ordered a CEA for colon cancer and CA-125 for ovarian. they saw nothing in the CT or the ultrasound of her belly. however the CA-125 came out at 275 when it should be no higher than 35. the hematologist (who is also my oncologist) said that she wasn't terribly concerned at all, in fact never would have ordered the test as it is not used as diagnostic. she said general malaise, clots themselves, infections, etc can also cause an elevated marker. so we relaxed. but she re-ran the test tuesday and it went from 275 up to 390 and now she "finds this concerning". mom is now having an intra-vaginal ultrasound tomorrow at 3 PM and i have literally been sick with anxiety since i heard about this on friday.
bad enough she almost died a month ago, and how she didn't stroke out we will never know. now she's trying to recover in a nursing home and we get this hanging over our heads. and here i am still in treatment for breast cancer! in fact i have herceptin 2 hours from now. i have been so concerned about trying to minimize my stress because i believe it plays a role in cancer and recurrence. but every day i wake up just sick to my stomach. i know - 'worry is just wishing for something you don't want to happen'.... but it's hard not to.
i know this isn't really her2+ related (except the fact that i am), but does anyone know much about tumor markers? it's all so confusing and i find ovarian cancer 10x more terrifying than breast. and if she has ovarian - all the more reason for me to get my one remaining out ASAP. i'm sorry, i am venting because i am sick of 4 days now of tears and anxiety. i am not sure i was even this nervous over my own tumor. in fact i went to my first biopsy utterly convinced it was benign. so now color me cynical.
valerie
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8/09 - IDC 1.8 cm triple positive, lumpectomy left breast
10/09 began chemo (taxotere & carboplatin) and weekly herceptin.
1/21/10 finished chemo, continued on herceptin every 3 weeks until 10/2010.
2/10 began 7 wks of radiation
6/10 mom dies of primary peritoneal ovarian cancer
8/10 got my last remaining ovary out
10/10 mammogram all clear
3/11 MRI shows 5 'spots' in right breast, largest 1 cm unidentifiable on US
needle biopsy proved the largest to be old inflamed cyst -phew!
7/10 switched to Arimidex
8/9 switched to Femara - allergic to arimidex
Femara made me lose hair quickly so switched to Aromasin
Aromasin made my hair fall out too and the bone pain was too much.
back on Tamoxifen 1/2013.
blood clot from trains and planes 5/2014 so on coumadin per onco for as long as i am on tamoxifen
tamoxifen was supposed to be up with my 5 yrs in may but my boyfriend was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer so i am staying on tamoxifen indefinitely because i want some ammo against BC, given the stress. lost my husband in only 10 wks in 2007 to stage 4 esophageal cancer.
cancer's screwing with another man i love
2/2016 - 6yrs in remission, off tamoxifen and off coumadin - yay!
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