CT SCAN

So I have been on Ibrance for 3 cyles, start cycle 4 tomorrow. When labs were done on cylce 2 my tumor markers rose from 289>980. Finally got referral for cat scan which i am having tomorrow after waiting almost a month. Hoping all is stable and my lab work showing my tumor markers from yesterday are down. I really want this to work. So another 2 weeks of waiting for results but fingers crossed for good results.

[Rotagirl]

Good luck, thinking of you.

[Ange0901]

Hoping everything goes well jaks. My first scan is November 11. I will have just started my 4th cycle by then. It’s a nervous time isn’t it.

I’ve got liver mets and I’m convinced I can now feel my liver so it mustn’t be working. Our brains are very good at playing tricks on us though.

I’ve read that tumour markers can increase due to tumour flare when the cancer is dying. Hoping this is the case for you.

Fingers crossed for both of us. 🤞

[Hidden in reply to Ange0901]

thanks I am hoping scans are stable and good luck to you

[PJBinMI]

I want to second Ange0901's mention of tumor flare. The tumor marker tests don't differentiate well between living cancer cells and dead cancer cells and so it is not unusual to see a spike in the TM numbers in the first few months after treatment is started. Some oncs don't use TMs at all for that reason--it causes us anxiety and we sure don't need any more of that! Plus TMs are not accurate for all of us. My dear just retired onc always said she goes most by how we report feeling, scans second and TMs a very distant third. She didn't do repeat scans until at least 3 months on a new (to me) med and even then cautioned me that it could be too early to rely on the TMs because of flare. I think one of the things that makes living with mbc stressful is that it can easily feel out of control, so anything we can do to assert some control feels helpful and TMs are concrete numbers that sound as though they mean more than they always do. You can express some control by asking your onc or one of the onc nurses or the pharmacist questions, take your meds on a regular schedule, learn what you can from reliable sources, keep a journal, take the dog for a walk, whatever gives you peace or joy or comfort. Early on, I wrote alot of angry scared poetry....pretty bad as poetry but got alot of the junky emotions out where I could examine them and make myself laugh at myself and my situation! In so many ways, living with cancer is pretty absurd!

[Hidden in reply to PJBinMI]

I could copy the answer by PJBinMI😃

My oncologist thinks the same way (I never get tested for tm's) and I also wrote some absurd poetry and laughed at myself.

[dodasso]

Hope things go well. I also have similar situation. My scan will probably be next month.

[mariootsi]

Good luck! Prayers for a good scan! Let us know results.

[Hidden]

will all these side effects fatigue loss of appetite shortness of breath praying to the iberance gods that this medication is working. The sad part is family that dont understand all this expected.

[Kelly001]

This is all so scary. I too will soon have scan as I am on my 4th cycle of Ibrance/Falsodex combo. My body feels so strange. I can't tell if it is side effects from meds. Or Cancer as I have liver mets. My joints ache, feel like I have upper back nerve tingles.

Hoping your scan goes well.

Hugs to all.

Kelly

[Hidden]

Well had my Cat Scan last Thursday see Dr today. Was able to see report on pt portal. Everything is stable, except now they want MRI of abdomen/liver, looks like liver mets. I wonder if Ibrance causes this? Saw a few posts from ladies who after 3rd cycle now have liver mets?

well this sucks just saw my ca 27-29 went up from 982>2800......something is wrong