Tumor Marker: Good (No, GREAT) News, for a Change

It seems like I haven't gotten any really good news on the cancer front for so long, that I've almost forgotten how to react. Or maybe the news was such a surprise that I was just frozen there for a moment, unable to take it in.

The good news is that, on Friday, when I went in for my zometa (chemo drug, keeps the bones strong) I saw the doctor who was subbing for Dr. Lee, who was at a breast cancer conference in Texas, I believe, and he (Dr. Tolman) told me that my latest CEA was 6.6.

Uh, huh.

The CEA is a tumor marker, a test that is done using blood. There are two tumor markers for breast cancer, CA 27-29 and the CEA. I don't know about other types of cancer, so if you do know, leave a comment for me.

In any case, the tumor markers are tricky tests. They are not always accurate, so you never rely on a tumor marker alone. In the old days, my doctor was following me with the CA 27-29, and it was perfectly normal at the time my cancer metastasized and I had a couple of dozen tumors in my bones, including a huge one that broke my right arm.

In my case, we follow my disease with tumor markers (now the CEA, which has been accurate for me) and PET scans, with an occasional scan of another type throw in for good measure--bone scan, CT, MRI, alphabet soup time.

A CEA of less than 5 is considered "normal," as in "no active signs of disease," so, delighted as I am about this news, I am also cautious. I think the test might be wrong.

The reason I think that is that the blood for this tumor marker was drawn before Thanksgiving, so before I started Tykerb and before I started the most recent round of radiation to treat two tumors in my spine and the one that broke a rib.

It seems to me that if I have that much cancer going on, my marker couldn't be this low.

So I am cautiously happy about the result, and am really looking forward to getting the results of the tumor marker that we drew blood for on Friday. If that one's low as well, I guess I'll believe it.

My CEA has been as high as 60 (scary), and was in the 20s while I was on my chemo break. I never expected to see a number this low again.

I really liked Dr. Tolman (not that I'm switching from Dr. Lee, but it's good to know that he has a great backup), and we also talked about how to manage the dose on the Tykerb, and about the latest news on Avastin and breast cancer, so I'll have a post up about that soon.

@ Jeanne Sather 2007.

Comments

[Carver]

Hi Jeanne,

I'm so glad that you got some at least promising news. Good news is always better than the reverse and I understand why it's not great news yet but it does seem promising. I'm also glad you liked the doctor. Never hurts to have a backup for when your doctor can't see you. You are as always getting my good thoughts, Carver

[judi]

Hi Jeanne
If we didn't have cancer we wouldn't get that excited about numbers, but they can mean so much. My marker test is call CA 15.3, and below 30 is normal. It has always been extremely accurate for me, at one point it was over 500, now just 43. Know what you mean about back-up doctors, it is good sometimes when the regular one goes on holidays. I am very, very pleased for you Jeanne.
Judi

[jeanne]

Judi--thanks! It sounds like your marker is in a pretty good range too. What kind of cancer is that a test for, if you don't mind my asking?

Jeanne

[laurie]

Hooray for good test results! A pretty good xmas present, no? Let's keep 'em coming in the New Year.

[jeanne]

Yeah, I think this is a great Christmas present! Especially since, as I wrote earlier, we always seem to get bad news around the holidays.

[judi]

Jeanne
I have oestrogen positive breast cancer, have never heard it called anything else.
Judi

[jeanne]

Judi--I didn't know that there was another tumor marker for breast cancer, I thought there were just two. Thanks for letting me know.

[Susan]

The main tumor marker blood tests are below. They are underutilized and should be partof a patients routine bloodwork. Most if them are about 75% accurate and can be used as a baseline, especially for high-risk patients. They are just as reliable as paps and mammograms. Although some patients (like yourself) get a false-positive, those that get a true-positive have a good measuring test. Hope this helps - God bless you.

CA 125 (Ovarian)
CA 19-9 (Pancreatic)
CEA (Gastric, others)
CA 27-29 (Breast)
CA 15-3 (Breast)
CA 72-4 (Ovarian, others)
PSA (Prostate)
AFP (Liver)
B2M (Lymphomas)

[jeanne]

Susan--thanks for the list.

My doctors don't see these as being as accurate as you represent them, but they do use them, along with a variety of scans--PET, bone scan, MRI, etc.--to get an accurate picture of my cancer.

For example, my CA 27-29 was NORMAL three weeks before my metastasis was discovered--and I had a couple of dozen tumors in my bones, including one that was large enough (5 cm) to break my right arm.

The CEA (also used for breast cancer) has been accurate for me so far.

[Jill]

Jeanne,

Glad to hear you are doing well. It's been a while since your post are you still doing well?

Do you know how high the CA 27-29 tests can get? My mother in law has breast cancer that has metastis to her bones. She has already had a spine surgery and also most recently a break in her right leg. Her level has increased dramatically in the last few months. I have not been able to see how high the markers can get.

I appreciate anything you can tell me as it seems that you are very aware of the various tests/markers. I also hope you are doing well.

Regards,

Jill

[Jill]

Jeanne,

Glad to hear you are doing well. It's been a while since your post are you still doing well?

Do you know how high the CA 27-29 tests can get? My mother in law has breast cancer that has metastis to her bones. She has already had a spine surgery and also most recently a break in her right leg. Her level has increased dramatically in the last few months. I have not been able to see how high the markers can get.

I appreciate anything you can tell me as it seems that you are very aware of the various tests/markers. I also hope you are doing well.

Regards,

Jill

[jeanne]

Jill--I don't know off the top of my head (that's not the marker my doctors use to follow me, they use the CEA), but I will find out and let you know.

Sorry to hear about your mother-in-law's cancer. I've had broken bones as a result of bone mets as well, but right now things are pretty much under control.

Please tell her the bones will heal, and the pain will go away. I'm completely pain-free right now.

Jeanne