Before my 3rd TAC chemo ( tomorrow ) my CA 15-3 t.markers went to
33 - borderline is 25 my level after the operation was 21.
Any ideas ??? i am quite scared ,can this means mets allready ???
Thanks a lot for yr answers
I am waiting for result of my latest CA 15.3 test.My oncologist says anything up to 30 is normal[post op mine was 19]and even people who have never had cancer can have a significant level and it is no cause for concern.I just hope mine is reasonable when I get it but its not a reliable indicator of anything unless you already have mets when raised levels can indicate activity.It could even be the chemo affecting the level I think.
Love Valx
Hi,
25 is not borderline in all areas so try not to worry. When mine hit 39 I was anxious but research nurse told me that could be the chemo finding some little cancer cells and blasting them so there was activity going on. If you read about them they are considered of not much use at low figures but might mean something if they go really high like hundreds. People who have not even got cancer or ever had it can still have tumour markers too.
I do know how you feel as I tracked mine, hope they drop on the next one. I was told they take a lot longer so the results are of the previous blood test so maybe that was actually number 2
Lily x
Hi there turkish delight, I’ve had the CA15-3 markers taken every 3 weeks since early 2004. I was diagnosed with both breast cancer and bone mets in 2003. I think as has been already mentioned here some chemotherapies can cause a temporary rise in your markers. My markers have always been an extremely reliable indicator as to what’s happening. At the moment they are 19, I’m in remission and have had long periods of remission thanks to some good responses to treatment.
Some hospitals use the 30 CA15-3 mark but my hospital uses 25. These are the figures that anyone with no active cancer or no cancer at all can have.
If my markers have risen consistently into the 30’s in the past I have had my treatment changed. I do believe this strategy has helped me live well and for as long as I have (so far!) without any further cancer involvement or spread and I haven’t any pain at all from bone mets since 2004.
I would disagree with markers only meaning anything significant if they go into the hundreds, that would indicate a very active level of cancer. I was diagnosed with both breast cancer and bone mets when my hip spontaneously fractured and my markers were at that time, before the start of any treatment, 90.
Your high marker might well be a blip due to your treatment and your medical team will, should, be looking for the trend in your markers not just the one reading. I hope your next markers are back to the lower figures. Take Care and Good Luck with your chemo, I hope it works really well for you…x
Thank you to all :)))
Had my 3rd chemo today as usual without any problems
I feel muuuuuch better with yr posts , just thank you again
Hugs and prayers from ıstanbul
Seda
Can you tell me what all this means,no one’s mentioned tumour markers to me & what is CA15.3?
Is this something I should know about?
Thanks,I just like to be informed
Little H xx
Dear Little H
it seems that i panicked for nothing,
just talked to my BS and he said that those
alterations up and down are very normal …
but if you google “ca 15-3 breast cancer”
or look for the site “labtest on line” ,
you can have some information.
But i got also very good info from those lovely ladies
who posted above with their true experiences
and also from my doctor.
Friendly wishes from istanbul
and take care _ seda
Hi Seda,
glad you are feeling better about the tumour markers and I will be flying over you at the weekend and landing at Antalya so will be thinking of you going through chemo on such hot days.
Take care
Lily x
Oh girls how easy it was for me to trot out ‘dont worry’ to seda.This morning I got my result and it had gone from 19 to 22 and I flew into a fearful panic even though onc’s letter said that they were ‘normal’ and he didnt want to see me till next year.I did what turned out out to be the best thing I could have done and rang the BCC helpline.They were amazing-marker explained,minor fluctuation normal no need to worry at all.I can so recommend the helpline for queries like this-she was so matter of fact and definite.
Thank you BCC.
Valx