Tumour markers???

[Nat1990]

My mums tumour markers have dropped from 1861 and now are 296 as of today.. today is her 10th weekly taxol.. I know her markers have dramatically came down but they don’t seem to come down as quick or much as when she first started taxol.. I mean it’s still dropping which is amazing but just not as much as it used to, has this happened to anyone else?? Any info would be great thanks x

[BangorBelle56]

We don't get told tumour markers here, so have to rely on scans. Is your mum not due a scan? I had an MRI and CT after nine weeks of Taxol.

[Nat1990 in reply to BangorBelle56]

Yea she has her ct scan tomorrow will get results next Thursday x

[Nat1990 in reply to Nat1990]

How have you responded to taxol? Xx

[BangorBelle56 in reply to Nat1990]

After nine weeks, lung, liver and spine mets had all shrunk considerably

[Nat1990 in reply to BangorBelle56]

Amazing!! Are you still on it now? X

[BangorBelle56 in reply to Nat1990]

Yes. Having infusion today. I am supposed to have 18-22 depending on neuropathy. This is my 12th infusion.

[beachlover65 in reply to BangorBelle56]

Hello BangorBelle,

I am switching treatments after 22 infusions with Taxol. Taxol worked well for me for 8 months. I am wondering why they told you that you were supposed to have 18-22 infusions. What are you supposed to do after that? I am going to Xeloda and am trying to recover from the neuropathy that Taxol caused.

[BangorBelle56 in reply to beachlover65]

If neuropathy is fine I will have 22 if not they will stop earlier. Think oncologist said he would like me to have a break then probably on to Xeloda.

[mariootsi in reply to Nat1990]

I pray for good results Thursday!

[Nat1990 in reply to mariootsi]

Thank you xx

[hdhonda]

Those tumor markers sound good to me, but the scans will give the bigger picture. Prayers for great scans. Blessings Hannah

[Nat1990 in reply to hdhonda]

Thank you x

[hopenowandtomorrow]

Praying for good scan results for your mum tomorrow ❤️🙏❤️. Please let us know the results.

[Nat1990 in reply to hopenowandtomorrow]

I will.. ct scan tomorrow and results a week later xx

[illini9]

Sometimes the numbers look like they aren't falling as fast but the percentages are similar. That happened to me and I started looking at them a different way. And I also found when we got to a certain range (for me in the 70-100) it started wobbling around like it hit a noise floor. Scans are all good so my onc and I discussed that maybe this is more of a normal range for me and we are just kind of hanging out at in this range (I had started at 4000)

[Nat1990 in reply to illini9]

Thank you for your reply xxx

[Francesca10 in reply to illini9]

That is really encouraging news♥️

[Nat1990 in reply to illini9]

Illini9 did your tumour markers ever go up

And down during treatment? Xx

[illini9 in reply to Nat1990]

Yes they have gone up and down while I've been on Ibrance and Letrezole though I scans and other tests show no active cancer. Lots of things can impact them - inflammation, illness, dead cancer cells. We really look for trends and use them as informative but not declarative.

[Nat1990 in reply to illini9]

Okay thanks you.. last week they were 276 and today they are 298 but her masters scan is good as you know xx

[Have-faith]

I feel like the markers react like when we first go on a diet. We lose weight quickly the first few weeks and then our bodies plateau a bit. Great news that the markers have gone down and by so much! Keep us posted on the scan results.

[Nat1990 in reply to Have-faith]

Thanks for your reply xx

[MacroMom]

I'd be very happy with these markers! I think it's common to have a larger drop when we initiate a successful treatment, and the size of the drops taper off as time goes on until they eventually plateau and kind of bounce around. That could be at 200, 100, 50...I don't think the level is as important as the fact that they are still dropping, or going up and down a little too. My oncologist seems more concerned about the speed of increase than small increases. And yes, scans are always more accurate - here's to good results that confirm those markers!

[Nat1990]

Thank you so much xxx

[Baseface]

The drop sounds encouraging but what markers are being discussed?

We’re monitoring CA15.3 which has a normal range of 30 or less per ku/L.

Been up at 419 and currently at 140.

[Nat1990]

Yea same CA 15-30? Xx

[Baseface in reply to Nat1990]

Ah ok 👌

I think that is a great drop in markers. I think it’s a good indicator of treatment doing it’s thing.

I think that marker indicates the cancer is less or more active. Reducing numbers mean less ca15.3 into the blood stream and lesser activity from the cancer.

So hopefullly this cancer is suffering right now.

[Nat1990 in reply to Baseface]

I pray it’s working and that cancer is getting put to sleep for a very long time. Thank you for explaining xxxx

[RLMB]

I am so happy for you and your mom! Prayers for continued success on these meds. And everyone on here is correct... there's a special place in Heaven for you! You are a blessing!

[Nat1990 in reply to RLMB]

Thank you so so much ❤️