This is my first post so it will be the back story and my question. (Sorry!)
My mom (76 now) was diagnosed in June 2021 on a ER visit for stomach pain. Turned out to be her BC had returned after over 10 years and had returned to her liver. They did scans etc - and she had "innumberable" lesions on her liver. Her liver was so enlarged it had literally spread over her entire abdomen. Her CA 27.29 was at 4600 in the hospital and by the time we got to her first treatment in July it had gone up to close to 10k. It was 9823. I mean doubled in a month. So scary. Her PET Scan and yes she has just had one this entire time - did not show it anywhere but the liver and some lymph nodes near the liver. Well she was put on Ibrance/Faslodex and has been on it since. Her tumor markers were down to around 258. She has done great on it. She works full time and is just a fighter. We were given the impression she would not be here at Christmas so to be sitting here a year later is impressive! Her last blood work did show a rise in her CA-27.29. Her last circulating tumor cell test was 1. (It was originally 39!!) Her CA-27-29 went up to 269. This is the first time those numbers have been up since starting as it went down fairly quick and kept going down slowly each month. I guess I just am curious if anyone else had this problem on Ibrance/Faslodex and what her options could possibly be if the tumor markers rise again. Her next appt to see the doctor/treatment is Aug 11. He told her though that she would see him first versus getting treatment as she normally had. If her number has gone up versus going back down they will discuss other options. Mind you her blood work has been fairly good. Her liver blood work is literally normal! She is nervous and asks me questions all of the time.
So yeah - I just want to know if anyone had this experience and if 9 points is alarming? I know everyone is different as are their oncologist. Just looking for references and experiences from anyone older who also has Liver Mets.
Thanks everyone.
Written by
krismes
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
There are quite a few options of Ibrance and Faslodex stop working so do not fear ! Your mom sounds like quite a fighter. She’s blessed to have a daughter like you!
I wouldn't say a 9 point rise is alarming, as I understand it, a little fluctuation is expected in stable disease. How your mum is feeling is just as much of an indicator. Wishing her well, Gill
My oncologist is one of those that never mentions the tumour markers. He just recommends a med and I take it until it doesn't work anymore. Then on to the next one. Fortunately, there has been a next one. I am reaching the end of the choices before IV Chemo. Don't know if I will take it or not.
Like 8576’s response above, my oncologist doesn’t put a lot of stock in tumour markers. It isn’t something we test with my regular bloodwork or that has come up in conversation except for the time I asked because I had read about them through discussions on this board.
There have been similar posts and responses that you can find when you scroll to the bottom of this page.
Im glad to hear that your mom is doing so well, considering her situation at diagnosis last year. I hope she continues to improve and thrive well into the future
Your notes about your mother's situation reads as if the treatment that she is on is working. As said above, the tumor markers are probably not reliable. It seems as if she is finally getting the treatment that works. I am much older than your mother and have MBC to my liver. I am just home from the hospital after having two liver ablations. We are all pretty good on this forum. Your mom is welcome to join us.
My oncologist uses three indicators: tumor markers, PET/CT scan with contrast, and clinical (how I feel, symptoms). The latter two are far more important. I am asymptomatic, so need scans to see if there is progression. If there is, then I switch meds.
In your mother's case, it sounds like the tms and clinical signs are good. I don't know which type of scan is best for detecting liver mets, but I would think she certainly should have one to see if the Rx is working to stabilize if not reduce the lesions.
Yes, there are other options if Ibrance and Fulvestrant stop controlling the mets.
Hi, for me Ribociclib +Letrozole stopped working this may - after initially fantastic efficacy - after 10 months , now am solely on Fulvestrant and waiting for next scan and bloodwork. My onc says no point in trying another CDK4/6 inhibitor like ibrance as all work the same way. What other approaches do you mean? Someone wrote „just switch meds“… Thanks in advance.
I am on Verzenio after having tried Ibrance . Mind you, I don't think we gave Ibrance a fair chance. It is supposed to be a sister drug to Ibrance. At the moment it is working. I am due for more scans in August. My oncologist had not even mentioned Verzenio. It was my daughter that brought it up as an alternative. He agreed with her and here I am with a stable report from the last scans. So here is hoping! My point is, why not try it or at least get a second opinion.
You mention , "circulating tumor cell test". I am so interested and have been trying to learn more about it and to access it for more than two years, since MBC. It seems to me that this test would be so useful to so many of us. Where did you have it done? Please comment on this.
Hi Krismes. My mom’s oncologist said that she would worry if markers doubles and triples but not 9-10 points. 15 months ago my mom tumor marker was 11.9 and now it’s 22 and her last petscan which was a month ago didn’t show anything. It didn’t light up at all. Any type of inflammation in body can make the tumor markers go up a little bit. One of the members here once told me that taking vitamins prior to blood work can raise tumor markers as well. So there is lots of thing that can trigger markers for couple of points.As you mentioned her blood work is fine,her scans were ok,so please don’t worry.
Well, I wonder. I remember someone here stated that being on xeloda that her tumor markers rose after a few cycles and then started to drop. I had to wait a few months while I pondered doing a clinical trial and having my original tissue from 2016 tested. My markers went up slowly every month not having any meds. When I started xeloda in May, my circulating tm was 8 and CA 15.3, was 83. Just saw doc yesterday and I freaked out because 3 months later, the CTM is now at 10.50 and the CA15, has doubled+ to 170. I have never been in the triple digits. I was really upset. But he said sometimes this happens. I feel pretty good, and the pain that I was having in my hips and certain spots on my spine don't hurt, as they did, like a month ago. Plus, my blood work is pretty good too. I was seeing my doc every month after every cycle. Now even with the elevation, he said we will see me in 2 cycles. I am hoping that someone will read this and have the same issue. I had to go to the hospital to get my bloodwork on Thursday after a really long flight and doubt that, that would make the tm's rise that much. Ibrance/fasoldex stopped working Dec of 2021. It is hard NOT to worry.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Xeloda and tumor markers 
one more tumor marker question? 
RISE IN TUMOR MARKERS
Tumor markers 
