My tumor makers have been slowly climbing since last summer. CA 27.29 is now at 572 and Cancer antigen 15-3 is 366. I have had 4 CT scans with contrast in the past 10 months and a brain MRI. The scans are all showing the liver mets are gone and there is no new evidence of disease. The brain MRI shows I have a healthy brain for a woman of my age.
My Oncologist dismisses my concern with the fact that the scans are so good. I just worry that the nasty little cancer cells are some place we haven't looked as in the past the increase in markers did indicate new cancer mets in my liver.
Thanks in advance for all your support and kindness.
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Snallygaster
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I would get your records and get a 2nd opinion. A fresh set of eyes can't hurt and if you have EVEN A SECOND of what if just hear it from someone else ESPECIALLY if your #s keep going up. It could just be whatever medication you're taking but I'm 41 had something similar with clear scans and rising #s and 3 months later im covered in cancer on my bones. I should've listened to my gut and had another Dr check it out. Prayers to you! And thanks for sharing! 🙏🙏🙏
Hi, hang in there, we are all worried everytime things change a little bit, I have an Oncologist I have been seeing for years, but when my Cancer returned or should I say when they found it after 10 years it was Metastatic Breast Cancer, I do get a second opinion if I am uneasy with in results or unsure of a treatment he might prescribe, Igo to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville to see another Oncologist there or if I have questions, I call her up and both Oncologist work together on things by sending there information and treatments, doesn’t hurt to get another opinion if your uneasy about things, they tell people to always get a second opinion, this is your life we are talking about , good luck and lots of positive prayers your way !
My local Dr is in Brevard County Florida where I live at his name is Dr James Neel, he’s my Oncologist since 2010, and the Dr I have seen at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville is Dr Pooji Advani, she is fantastic, explains everything in detail, if I have a question I call and leave a message, haven’t been there for a while because it’s over a 3 hour drive . I had another Oncologist in Largo Florida from 2008 to 2010 when I lived in Largo and Clearwater area’s.
I was concerned about tumor markers and my oncologist wasn’t because my scans were fine. 7 months later and 2 hellish months of losing weight and vomiting my family physician ordered a stomach endoscopy and lo and behold, the cancer is in my stomach lining. Since it is not a common place for mets, the oncologist said she relies on the CT scans. I was beyond frustrated, as you can imagine! Trust your gut and keep digging to find your answers. Good luck!
My situation is very similar to Nicillo. My markers climbed for about 9 months before finally progression showed up in my stomach lining. I was having PET/CT scans every 3 months along the way. My numbers were very similar to yours at that time. Seems like we have had a few people on this board in the same situation lately.
I switched medicine from Kisqali and Letrozole to Xeloda in November 2020 and it seems to be working. The markers are down to about 150 now. I don't know if having a PET/CT would make a difference in finding the progression but you may want to ask your doctor.
Thank you for your post. I have mets to the bones and liver. My markers have gone down to 2,500, that is 1000 down from last month. I am pretty tired of onc's poo pooing markers, particularly when they are high like mine. I am also on Xeloda since November. I am having Pet/CT scans every 3 months. No one has mentioned my stomach lining. Did that not show up in your Pet/CT scans?
My tumor markers started going up slowly then more rapidly but the mets to the stomach lining did not show up until the third scan after the markers started rising, about 9 months.
Thanks everyone. I did see another Oncologist in early February. I did have a bone scan May 2020. I think having another my be in order along with an endoscope. I did have an obstruction in my small bowl two weeks ago but the Oncologist didn't think it was related to MBC.
My experience was similar scans showing shrinking tumors but rising CA15 makers. I pushed for a PET scan and we didn’t find my bone Mets until we did that. It was a hassle for the doc to justify but the rising tumor markers got it over the finish line. It’s a good thing too because my hip was cancer thru the marrow. When my doc was in private practice a PET scan was the first test and now that he works for a large organization he has to go to a “peer review board” for approval. I get it, my insurance was charged $25k for the scan but ...... really?
That's interesting , my 15-3 is 86 afters year when t started at 435. My oncologist sayshow you feel and present is most important. And the scans are reassuring. However I think in your shoes I'd want a thorough check,just to be sure. Good luck Carolyn x
I'm so glad the liver mets are gone; I'm so jealous! Not, really, I'm happy for you. Hopefully the markers will go down also. I'm like you, I don't take them for granted either.
Someone on this forum suggesting looking in the stomach lining and sure enough that where mine was hiding. My tumor marker was rising and all the scans showed nothing. I was taking iBrance and letrozole. Hope checking.
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