I just got back 4 different blood test results, and my tumor markers have gone down as follows: Jan 2019: 256; Feb 176; April 88, May 44.I

[Arkait]

I assume this is good news? Is the amount of reduction good, very good, or unreliable? My Cat scan shows a reduction in one nodule, but there's definitely cancer left (chest area lymph) I dont get an oncologist's take on this un†il Monday, so though† I'd ask you guys, first.

[SoCalLady]

It's not good news, it's FANTASTIC news! Must be that Letrozole & turkey tail mushroom combo!

[Rbeth]

Fabulous. My markers went from 258 to 191 when I was switched from faslodex to letrozole. That was April 1st til May 10th. I am thrilled.

I hope mine continue down like yours. I am also on Ibrance. Be well. Reenie

[Kathyquilts]

Markers going down is good, but scans are more reliable to determine if a protocol is working.

[Godbeforme]

Such good news! I am new to all this and don't know much but I would celebrate and praise God! <3 xo

[Arkait in reply to Godbeforme]

Yup, thank you. It's in God's hands. But also need to grow up and stop

eating sugar. I'm good, otherwise, (no alcohol, very little caffeine, no

smoking).

[Godbeforme in reply to Arkait]

I have heard it said that it's not so much WHAT you eat, it's what you DON'T eat, so even though I have my chocolate at night, during the day it's veggies and salad that wash all that bad chocolate away HA HA! I try to buy the stuff I know I won't go hog wild with. Hershey's milk chocolate kisses for instance are definitely a danger to me. I am also discovering that sodium phosphate is in many foods, even in ham, so now I'll bet it's in bacon too, and it is one of the ingredients listed as interacting with ibrance. oh well, by the way, congrats again on your good news, it was so wonderful to hear! <doing happy dance> I have had abundant energy and no pain since starting the ginger. I know y'all are probably tired of hearing about ginger powder and I do realize I could cause the price to go up, but I definitely like to brag about good things that make a difference in my life! Thank you Jesus! God bless you and heal us all in Jesus name, amen! <3 xo

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Godbeforme]

I’ve just started dried ginger. Do you think it helps?

[Godbeforme in reply to Toomanyquestions]

i do, because the effects it is having on me was nothing I expected. I believe placebo effects are only possible if you are thinking it will have a certain effect, what do you think? I just wanted to take it because a lady wrote that it kills cancer stem cells! Serendipity! <3

[viennagirl in reply to Arkait]

Sugar is a problem for me too. I once read that scientists believe the pathway that sugar takes to the brain is the same pathway that cocaine takes. People who do cocaine often find it impossible to kick. I believe the scientists are correct because getting off sugar for me is like being drug addicted. I am in every other way very responsible. I don't smoke and rarely drink alcohol although I recently heard that beer is good for us. It is just sugar that I crave.

I believe sugar is very destructive because my cravings are so strong that I find it almost impossible to give up. So I believe it is addictive. I sometimes get up at night if I haven't had sugar in the day time and have to have a cookie and some rice milk before I can get back to sleep. I have heard that sugar feeds cancer. So I am feeling a bit desperate to give it up. One of the problems is that it is every where. I have some family members who pooh, pooh the dangers of sugar and continue to bring sugary foods to me. I know they are being kind and don't understand but I wish I could ask them to stop without hurting their feelings. I do believe that sugar is more addictive for some people than for others - just like cocaine - some people can take it or leave it and other people find it destroys their whole life. If anyone has tips for getting off sugar I would be most appreciative for their help.

I hope that you also find a way to stop eating sugar. Best wishes for a healthy future. Hugs Marlene

[PJBinMI]

That kind of lowering of TMs over time is great news for you. TMs are not precise and don't work for every body, but having them going down like this is certainly better news than not seeing them move at all. Scans are more reliable and provide more detail. My long time onc always paid most attention to how I report feeling, scans second and TMs third. I've been living with mets from the get go for a bit over 15 years and had decreases in the CA 27-29 very similar to yours during the first months of treatment (Letrozole plus Zometa for bone mets.) In an earlier post you asked about others' experiences with lung mets. I had not had lung mets but my face to face friend who lived the longest with mbc had lung mets and did really well for 13 years. Where our mets are is usually not as important for long term survival as how the cancer cells respond to treatment and you are off to a great start. I hope your onc will give you favorable news today!

[Kimr2081]

I think that is fantastic news. Hope your doctors appt confirms this.

[Francesca10]

That is great news!!! My onc follows how I feel, scans and then TM’s but I know from my ca markers what is going on within me.

Hope your onc agrees its great news💕

[Survivornow]

Sounds very good! Prayers for complete healing!

[viennagirl in reply to Survivornow]

I love the words 'healing'. I still believe it is possible. Thank you. Hugs Marlene

[Have-faith]

I know some people do not rely much on tumor markers, but regardless you had a nice drop in numbers! It is huge. My onc uses TM results to gauge how I am doing. They seem to correspond with the scans I get. I have a hunch your scans will show a reduction. Keeping my fingers crossed for you! Faith.

[Jerseygirl45]

I think that is great news. My oncologist uses them along with pet scans.

I am on Abraxaine and in one month one went from 4700.to 2200. The other went from 3800. To 1609.

So you can see why I am happy for your result. Maybe this will bring mine down to mormal range🙏.