ca27-29

[Praising]

I just had ct scan of chest, pelvic abdomen. They were stable. But my lab ca2729 was up to 70. Has been in the 20 range? Any thots?

[Nocillo]

many doctors don’t bother with this, but I knew something was up when my steadily rose. My lobular had moved to my stomach lining. The oncologist wouldn’t admit a correlation, but I’m convinced that was the cause.

[Claireperth]

Could be some kind of infection etc.. If the ct scan didn’t show anything then it appears your oncologist wasn’t concerned. This is just my opinion, you could try and get another professional opinion. 🌸

[Fiercefighter13]

My doctor runs the CA 15-30 and the 27-29 test every 28 days. My numbers started going up, and steadily rose from 69 to 580 in a matter of 1 1/2 years. Yet, my PET scan, CT scans and MRI's kept showing up as NED. Finally, my doctor and I decided that I should have an endoscopy and colonoscopy, and bam, there it was!! My stomach was full of cancerous lesions and cancerous ulcers and I had polyps that were cancer in my colon (those were removed via the colonoscopy). Oddly enough, I felt fine, no stomach issues were apparent by how I was feeling. I have lobular, and that does not "usually" show up on scans because it does not grow in tumors, but thin lines of cancer instead so scans don't usually pick it up. My numbers 100% correlate to my cancer growth and they go down when therapies are working. For some people they have direct correlation, for some they don't.....I'm lucky because scans don't really work for me. I'm having an FES scan at the end of May, which might work best for me since it picks up on estrogen rather than sugars (lobular cells don't get overly excited over sugars like other cancers). If your numbers keep going up at a steady clip, it might be good for your doctor and you to investigate further so as not to let things grow out of control. If they go back down, then it may just be a "blip". Wishing you the best on journey!! Take care!!

[Praising in reply to Fiercefighter13]

thank you so much. Had you had a previous colonoscopy before? What is the estrogen scan? Never heard of that. I’m estrogen+

[Fiercefighter13 in reply to Praising]

Yes, I have had colonoscopies every 5 years since I was 42, I am now 58. My previous colonoscopy before the one that found the cancer was 4 years earlier, and was clear, so the cancer grew during that time period. I was diagnosed with metastatic in my bones 4 years ago this coming July.

The FES PET is a PET scan that lights up with Estrogen receptor metabolism excitement from the cancer cells rather than the standard PET that lights up with sugar metabolism excitement from the cancer cells. Standard PET scans require a special low carb no sugar diet beforehand, to entice the sugar metabolism from hungry cancer cells. FES Pet scans do not require any special diet ahead of time, and the injection beforehand is Fluoroestradiol ( a type of estrogen) to entice excited metabolism from the cancer cells. These scans are targeted for estrogen receptor positive cancers and are better at finding, and lighting up with these cancers. Many cancer centers in hospitals now offer these types of scans, as they were FDA approved a year ago (not 100% sure on the approval date). For those of us with Lobular, which is hard to find on standard PET, CT and MRI scans, the FES PET scans are a Godsend.

My hope is that your markers stabilize or go back down, this a sucky journey to say the least, and the longer we can stay stable, the easier the road.

[TammyCross in reply to Fiercefighter13]

My onc refuses to let me have FES, just regular PET. They reserve FES for people with more mets, probably to colon and liver.

[Fiercefighter13 in reply to TammyCross]

I hope you get the answers you need to feel comfortable with your journey. God knows, even when I get the answers I need I’m never at peace even them. I’m sure I’m probably getting the FES Pet since the Metz moved into my stomach and colon. I hate this disease. I’m always hoping, wishing and praying for all of us, hoping for better meds and easier meds as well. Take care, and wishing you the best!