I know a lot of doctors don't put a lot of reliance on these. Mine doesn't focus on the numbers but more of a pattern. I just had mine done and my CA 27.29 went from 60 to 70. Okay I know that is not a large jump but just discouraging. I think maybe I have my expectations set too high. It's just discouraging because I have been working so hard on lifestyle changes: diet, clean skin care and cosmetics, clean products at home, etc. I feel bad even complaining because they still seem fairly low but it was just a punch in the stomach this morning.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Kim
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Kimr2081
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My markers have slowly crept up and this time I saw my oncologist she didn’t tell me them..said she’d not received the report..I think she just wasn’t telling me as I obsess over them
The time before she discussed my case with a colleague and they both agreed no change in meds yet as ct showed stable bone mets and pleural effusion gone
Don’t get panicked by markers though it’s hard it to
Thanks Barb. I'm trying to stay grounded. It's just so surreal feeling sometimes. I feel perfectly fine physically. No symptoms of any kind. Of course emotionally I have more symptoms. I am still waiting for the other test result. Not sure why that didn't come in at the same time. And of course my doctor is on vacation until next week. Going to try not to worry and I have a feeling he won't be as the increase wasn't that much. Ugh - why can't it just go away.
I’ve had to resort to antidepressants and take painkillers all the time..I was a different person a year ago and can’t believe how horrible my life has become
I’ve just woken up and saturated with sweat and my sheets feel disgusting
Oh trust me I am on antidepressants also, but then I was before this last diagnosis. I started a trial about this time last year and they had to switch the antidepressant I had been on for 13 years. I had to quit the trial because of the side effects and I am still working on getting the right dosage again of the meds that will also help with the anxiety and the depression. So cliche but just trying to take one day at a time and not try and be a fortune teller and predict the future. That causes me anxiety.
My 15-3 marker has gone from 42 to 35 to 44 to 37 to 48 (should be 30 or less). My onc says markers are only one of many indications of cancer. They can go up or down over time. She doesn't pay much attention to them so I don't either.
Mine says the same thing and looks for more of a pattern. According to my oncologist the volume of cancer in my liver is small and he is happy with where I am. I guess I should be too but sometimes my head just screws with me!!
I can relate. No matter what my oncologist says about markers (she also does not pay much attention to them and didn't even order them for my last blood work), I still look at them and read both good and bad about my situation into the numbers. Without the markers, all we have are the scans. It's just so hard for all of us having to wait months for scans to know if treatment is working or not.
Kim, my cancer markers have always remained in the normal range even before surgery. Dr. Khong doesn't think they work on me. They aren't reliable on a lot of folks. Blessings, Hannah
Good advice. I usually get my results in about 3-4 days. I know mine aren't horrendously high but I really just wanted them to go down. I am better today and am just trying to focus on my blessings and not letting cancer consume me. Sometimes easier said than done.
When I was on tamoxifen I had dreadful hot flushes and night sweats, changing brands and the time of day I took it made a huge improvement. I have also found that I get more hot flushes when i’m dehydrated.
I know I should be grateful and I am. I really didn’t realize markers could be that high and hope I didn’t sound like I’m whining. Thanks for the reminder to be thankful and I wish you the best.
Thanks - I guess they are. My doctor says he focuses more on the trend than the number so I guess going up just kind of bummed me out. I guess its only 10 points. He is not concerned and we are continuing on the same treatment.
Today my orthopedic oncologist asked what my markers were, and my oncologist has never shared them with me. I don't even know what markers are. Am I looking for a particular test in my bloodwork or is it something else?
Any advice you could give me about markers and their use would be appreciated.
Yes they are something that is tested through your bloodwork. I would ask your oncologist if they test for them. Some do and some don’t as I understand they aren’t always reliable. I think they are basically tests that show that you have cancer or that it is metastized. My oncologist looks for a trend rather than the actual number.
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