Cancer Markers on First Diagnoses may be useful

[Hazelgreen]

clinical-breast-cancer.com/...

Published in Oncology

Journal Scan / Research · July 25, 2022

Elevated CA 15.3 in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer

"This retrospective study evaluating the association of baseline cancer antigen (CA) 15.3 with primary or secondary metastatic disease in breast cancer showed that, in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer, baseline CA 15.3 levels of more than 30 kU/L corresponded with a higher risk of both primary and secondary metastatic disease." (bolding and underlining added)

"Current guidelines do not recommend testing for CA 15.3 in a non-metastatic setting. This first-of-its-kind study suggests that the tumor subtype and baseline CA 15.3 levels may help identify patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer at risk for primary or secondary metastatic disease."

– Jing Xi, MD, MPH

[Jessie55]

I have been wondering whether CA153 should be tested routinely in women and especially after early breast cancer diagnosis and treatment

[Hazelgreen in reply to Jessie55]

I think that's a great idea, Jesse! I've tried to have CA 15-3 included every time I have blood work done (currently monthly) as it helps me plot my progress. Although my bloodwork results come to my Saskhealth record within two to three hours, it takes a week before CA 15-3 results appear so I assume it's a more elaborate lab test (more costly?), but worth my knowing.