Routine marker testing and recurrence... worth it?

[hutchibk]

I will just simply have to agree to disagree with you, Debbie. Respectfully.
However:
1. the referenced 'abstract' that at the beginning of the thread that started this discussion, and the NCCN guidelines that you refer to, are not as clear as you would make them out to be, as they are written in very scientific terms and it is difficult to translate into laymen's terms. You took the liberty of translating for us laymen/women using your "language", and your perspective... which by default carried your opinion layered in it. Maybe it was unintended and you don't realize the unwavering absoluteness with which you presented it.
2. The Page 75 "tumor marker" recommendations from the 2007 NCCN Clinical Practice guidelines for Breast Cancer are pretty antiquated as they reference "#177. Bast RC, Jr., Ravdin P, Hayes DF, et al. 2000 update of recommendations for the use of tumor markers in breast and colorectal cancer: clinical practice guidelines of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. J Clin Oncol. 2001;19:1865-1878." 2000 was almost 8 years ago. A lot has changed since then. It seems to me to be absolutely black or white for you that the research presented is the only truth and the only possibility. OK. So be it. I see it entirely differently and luckily so does my oncologist. I am relieved that he doesn't follow textbook guidelines.
3. You have suggested that we are being unfriendly because we aren't willing to buy into the referenced guidelines hook, line, and sinker. You suggest that we can't see "the truth" as you presented it. I believe we are not at all being unfriendly. Disagreement can be uncomfortable, true. Some of us simply disagree (and are living proof otherwise) with the presented absoluteness from guidelines that use an 8 year old study as their basis for said recommendation. It is my best guess that more current studies will appear before the NCCN in not too distant years that will suggest that they reconsider that recommendation...
4. I can find numerous clinical oncs, if I were to put my mind and time to it, (including mine) who would love to expound on how and why the theoretical guideline you reference is outdated and obsolete thinking.
5. I have read the Four Agreements. I agree it is a good book with good insight.

I will leave it at that, and as I said, I will agree to disagree about this topic and with the NCCN recommendations about following tumor markers post primary DX and treatment.