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Sam09's avatar
Sam09
Member
9 years ago

Advice needed about tumor marker tests results today

Hi Everyone 
                 I am so desperately needing some advice. I am 5 months out of a lumpectomy for her2 bc. 1.4 cm tumor removed and I opted to not have lymph nodes removed or have chemo and radium and herceptin. I would have the herceptin but in our country we have to have chemo first and I just cannot do this.. I had a all clear pet scan 8 weeks ago and have felt great however one month ago my tumor markers went to 46 from 30 and just today had jumped to 89.  I have only just seen my oncologist who moved my appointments to yearly as I had finished what treatment I wanted and not the standard of care they normally offer.  I am pettrified has it spread?  Does this mean that it has?  The first jump to 46 I had a cold so I thought maybe that was it but now it is much higher. My GP sent me for a breast ultrasound 3 weeks ago and this was fine and all my other tumor markers and liver function etc was perfect.... I am so scared I am going to die with this her 2 bc can anyone help me? Are tumor markers are good indication whilst I am 5 months out of surgery and having no other treatment, Should I be worried? My oncologist said to contact her if I had any concerns... Shall I?  Any advice would be appreciated. Especially with anyone who has this type of BC.

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  • Sam09's avatar
    Sam09
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi Primek 
                   Firstly thank you for your help. Yes I am in Qld and the answer to your question that perhaps I am questioning my decision well No I am not.  Scared perhaps of my decision with my tumor markers elevated but I am certain I do not want chemo.. My oncologist told me last week it is to late for chemo etc now they like to do it no more than 9 weeks after surgery. I do feel alone though but fear is what it appears to be why we all choose to put ourselves through toxic treatments that seem to make us so very sick when we were feeling well before having it. I just can't fathom this treatment .
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    9 years ago
    Are you in Australia? For early bc yes you need to at least have some taxol with the herceptin. I would contact your oncologist and ask the question about your concerns with the tumor markers.   I too have a her2 breast cancer. ..but I chose a mastectomy, sentinal node biopsy, chemo and herceptin even though I am node negative.

    I am wondering if you are questioning your decisions? We all do. But it doesn't  mean you cannot go back and revisit them. You could also discuss concerns with your breast care nurse. If you do re discuss decisions you need to ask questions about recurrence for not only 5 years but 10 years. Side effects can differ greatly for people and although someone can do it very hard on chemo...others do not. There is now research that supports that Ct-H can be as effective as ACT-H chemo and less toxic to the heart. 

    Australia has one of the best statistics in the world for breast cancer survival for 5 and 10 years...I guess that is because of the current treatment regimes. Have you asked the question of your chances of recurrence without the treatment? These are hard questions to ask ...but are necessary.

    My niece had 2 miniscule her2 + breast lumps..less than 2mm ea, but 10 positive breast nodes out of 20. She had ACT-H and radiation and 14 years on is cancer free. I doubt that she would have got this far without that treatment. 

    Hope all goes well. Kath x