Test Results

[Sharon0122]

I had a CT and bone scan last week. All looked good. Saw the dr yesterday, all was good with him too. In my previous CT scans they were watching cysts on both my kidneys. This last Ct scan said nothing about them. He was not concerned about that yesterday. This morning my CA 27.29 came back and went from 65 to 85. I’m very worried. Guess I’ll be calling him today. Can stress cause this to rise? Had some severe problems with my 42 year old son.

hugs

Sharon

[Aprilfoolz1]

It's great news that your scans look good and your oncologist is not concerned . I definitely think stress and inflammation can cause markers to jump a bit . Give your doctor a call and see what he says about the increase in the markers . Let us know. I'm sorry you've had some stress with your son - even at 52 they are still our kids , right ?'

[Sharon0122 in reply to Aprilfoolz1]

Thanks for your reply. Called the doctor he said nothing to worry about. Yes stress does strange things to our bodies. Maybe the chronic pain in my back doesn’t help either. 7 fractured vertebrae. Starting in Fentynal patches, but hubby read you could die, so he doesn’t really want me taking them. He couldn’t handle Cronin pain! lol

Hugs, Sharon

[Aprilfoolz1 in reply to Sharon0122]

Good to hear that your onc isn't concerned I sure hope you can get some pain relief . Cancer rx fentynal patches is an entire different situation compared to the fentynal crisis we hear about in the news, at least I think it is ? Maybe your husband can go with you to an appt re pain . Do you see a palliative doctor or does your oncologist prescribe the patches ? Either ways, I hope you have some relief . Hugs to you

[Sharon0122 in reply to Aprilfoolz1]

I see a pain management dr. Have been for over a year. He goes to all my appointments. The paper that comes with all px, the first thing it said was a side effect was death. I guess that scared him. I put it on any way, after he just went to bed. This pain is not living. I can’t cook, do any housework, Laundry he does it all. It’s a real trip just to go to the grocery store. I told him it’s my body, I’ve lived with the pain long enough. If this doesn’t work, not sure what I’ll do. Huge

[Aprilfoolz1 in reply to Sharon0122]

I'm sorry :/ Sending you love and prayers

[DianaTrapani in reply to Sharon0122]

Have you tried radiation oncology to treat the broken vertebrae? I had four spontaneous rib fractures and it really helped!

[Sharon0122 in reply to DianaTrapani]

Never heard of that? I’m seeing my radiology oncologist Monday. How does this work? I had a kyphoplasy and that had a domino effect on 4 of my vertebrae. Thanks for the heads up! Hugs!

[Totheriver]

So happy your scans were good💕. Stress can do a lot especially if it involves our kids.

[love2golfwell]

Very happy that you had good scan results and that your doctor was not concerned about anything. Situations other than cancer can cause tumor markers to rise. My doctor said they look for trends in the rising like if the number would continue to go up every time you have bloodwork. Stress wreaks havoc on our bodies and can cause all kinds of issues as it creates inflammation. I'm sorry you are in pain. Hope you can find some relief from that. Sending you hugs and prayers.

[MaryCos]

Yes, stress and inflammation can cause increases... as can some non-cancer reasons. Just remember, these tumor markers are measuring the shedding of a certain protein... NOT tumor burden. Also, a patient advocate friend of mine who knows a lot more than I do as a patient advocate... just said the other day that tumor markers can rise when CANCER IS DYING too.

Our tumor markers are part of a larger picture. Mine jumped for the first time since I started treatment (where I went from high 40s-mid 50s to 83. I started looking into a number of things, especially as I was gearing up to leave my then-oncologist at Hopkins (who, herself, left Hopkins). Did a liquid biopsy and I don't even have enough (or any) circulating tumors to detect anything. Mind you, this is when my CA-27 went up. Interestingly too, my CEA plummeted. I am a smoker, so "normal" is still less than 5 on that. I was at a 7 in October. By December, I was down to 2.1. First time ever since starting treatment.

I hope that makes you feel better in terms of how much worry we (should) devote to these! Take a breath. xo

[Sharon0122 in reply to MaryCos]

Thank you so much. Once a mother always a worry wort no matter how old they are. Hugs

[MaryCos in reply to Sharon0122]

xoxo