Hello all,
I hope you are all well. I hope you don’t mind me posting but my mum has had a cold for the past week or so and today she had her bloods done to see if she is ready for her next cycle of capecitabine and her TM’s have gone from 37 to 47. Has anyone had this before? I am such a massive worrier so hoping someone can help put my mind at rest.
Best wishes and lots of love xxx
Hi I wouldn’t be worrying too much as they are very low.my oncologist said they go on how you are feeling and scan results more than tumour marker numbers.my tumour markers went from 441 before chemotherapy to 2,726 when on it.then down to 1,572 before last chemo.now about to have another done so I’m hoping for more of a downward trend.
i hope your mum’s treatment goes ok.Didi
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Hello Marie, sorry to read that you are so worried about your mum’s TM’s. Some Oncs don’t bother with them as they don’t always indicate whats going on. However, my Onc does ask for them. He does not rely on the actual number - that can go up or down between each blood test - but he does go by the trend. In other words, if several blood test results go up, then he keeps a closer eye on me - it may be time for another CT scan. But equally, the numbers can go down, which would tend (not definite, though) to indicate that the current treatment is working. There is, unfortunately, no hard and fast rule, though. I would say don’t worry too much, as the current number is very low compared to many peoples results. My last blood test result was 50, but the one before was 62, the one before that 68 and the one before that 52, so, as you can see, they have been jumping around a bit.
Hugs and best wishes. Barton.x
Thank you so much for replying. I am such a big worrier and worry about everything!! I really appreciate you responding to me. Xxx
Marie, don’t worry about worrying too much! My sister says I’m the biggest worrier in the world - I worry about everything! It’s perfectly understandable that you would worry when first told, but things will calm down. It just takes a little time. Hang in there, and just be there for your mum.
Hugs. Barton.x
Yes…can I just share that I find things are larger than life if im lyng awake and happen to be either worried, hurt, angry with someone or had done something I regretted that day!
thats when we are all alone too, sadly.
hugs,M
I’m so sorry, B, that you are having such trouble sleeping. Everything does seem worse then, I know. I do sometimes have trouble, but it’s usually trouble getting to sleep in the first place. If I can drop off in the first place I generally manage to get back to sleep after getting up for the loo. If I can’t sleep, I find it helps to get up and have a mug of hot milk and watch tv for a bit. Do you try that?
Hugs. Barton.x
Hi just wanted to let you know that my TM’s have been falling for several months now but have had it confirmed today that my skin mets are progressing and worse than they were 3 weeks ago. Just proves that TMsare justa guide but perhaps not particularly reliable. May help those who are worried that they are rising (which they can do for no ‘bad’ reason) or who dont have them taken at all. x