Might rising tumor markers be caused by infection rather than metastatic cancer?

[Rte66]

I had a 2 cm ductal cancer, and one sentinel node, estrogen+, progesterone+, her2-, removed by stereotactic radiosurgery last summer (2021) and now (late 2022) have rising CA 27-29 and CA 15-3 tumor markers, from the 40s to the 60s to most recently a bit over 100, with the CA 15-3 in the high 30s, but recent CT, MRI and PET scans show nothing visible. However, I also discovered that I've had a UTI (urinary tract infection) for about 7 months. Through a screw-up, probably due to my own absent mindedness in using an Urgent Care facility in July of this year (2022), I wound up taking just one antibiotic pill, believing that that was what was in fact prescribed for the UTI. So I never really knocked out the infection, and it has persisted to now (mid-Dec.). Its main symptom is frequent attenuated urination, which most annoying when it wakes you up 2-3 times a night to tinkle. I am now taking the antibiotic and will blood test both before and after. If the cancer markers go back down after a 7 day course of nitrofurantoin mcr 100 mg 2x/day and therefore seem to have been caused by the UTI infection instead of being a sign of metastatic BC, I'll log in next week to let everyone know. A little science experiment. Fingers crossed!

[Justme153]

From everything i was told and read yes tumor markers are affected by infection and inflamation. Just like Pet scan can be affected by inflamation that is why they tell you not to exercise or do anything strenuous before a scan.

[Flavia100 in reply to Justme153]

last month my CA 27 rose approximately seven points, not an awful lot but it caught my attention. I had been sick with some kind of crud for two weeks. Understandably this month I was a little bit concerned but it went right back down. So that’s my experience

[SeattleMom]

Wishing you the best! Love and prayers!

💗💗🙏🏻🙏🏻 Linda

[Godbeforme]

Thanks for posting because right before I had my petscan I had a gallbladder attack and weeks before that my CA's were over 300! The day of the scan I was still all inflamed from the attack, but now everything has settled down and I'm hoping with the ibrance the numbers will go down, as that was scary. Merry Christmas and God bless! <3