Some good news at last!

Hi Amy congratulations on the markers coming down.  I didn't realise they were that high at the start.  Glad the medication seems to be working for you.    Take care.

Tracey xx

Hi Amanda

Yes, sounds like you are being very well monitored anyway.  They are tracking CEA and CEA-15.3 for me.

Be interesting to know what levels you are at.  Mine just kept elevating and elevating until I changed my medication so I'm taking it as a good sign although being mindful that it's just one measure of how things are tracking.

Take care of yourself.

Amy x

Hi Amy

I chatted with my Oncologist re the TM's and she said they are not a reliable guide for everyone but she is happy to track mine.  She wasn't sure mine had ever been elevated and as I'm on a clinical trial I have a CT every six weeks so I am pretty intensely monitored anyway.  I am going to get them done (they had trouble with getting my port to bleed yesterday) next week and then we can follow what they do - may be useful in the future.  

I think it is a good sign that yours are reduced - do you know which ones they do? (there seem to be a couple of different ones).

Amanda xx

Hi Amy

I chatted with my Oncologist re the TM's and she said they are not a reliable guide for everyone but she is happy to track mine.  She wasn't sure mine had ever been elevated and as I'm on a clinical trial I have a CT every six weeks so I am pretty intensely monitored anyway.  I am going to get them done (they had trouble with getting my port to bleed yesterday) next week and then we can follow what they do - may be useful in the future.  

I think it is a good sign that yours are reduced - do you know which ones they do? (there seem to be a couple of different ones).

Amanda xx

Hi All

This is Kathy from BCNA's Policy Team. I just wanted to jump into the conversation to confirm that, in Australia, tumour marker tests are really only used in women with secondary breast cancer. They are used to help doctors (usually medical oncologists) determine whether or not the cancer is responding to treatment. But as Amy said above, they are just one of the things the medical oncologists take into consideration.

There is an article about tumour markers in Issue 21 of The Inside Story, which is BCNA's supplement to The Beacon for women with secondary breast cancer.

Hope this helps.

Kathy

Hi Amanda

Feeling good on the medication so far.  Still have the hot flushes I had on Tamoxifen but not any other side effects to date.  I will have follow up scans at some stage but with bone mets it is hard to monitor so the drs do rely a lot on symptoms. 

It's true that tumour markers are used more for stage 4.  I think your drs will rely more on scans as your mets are in your lungs/axilla - it's easier to see whether the tumours have grown/shrunk with scans on organs/tissue.  Bit harder with bones.

Hope you are feeling well and good luck with the clinic tomorrow.

Amy x

That's great news Amy - you have to bask in a bit of good news!  How are you feeling on the new medication?  Do you have a follow up scan at some point or rely on symptoms as a guide?  I ask as a newbie to stage 4 - it seems different for everyone how it is managed and monitored.  I am so pleased that you had some good news though.  Big hugs across cyberland to you!

I think oncologists really only start looking at BC markers once you have stage 4 disease.  I don't believe they see it as a reliable indicator of progression prior to diagnosed mets but could be wrong.  I now have stage 4 disease and as yet we are not talking markers but using CT scans to monitor the mets in my lungs and axilla node.  I believe they are monitoring my TM for the drug trial and intend asking the question at clinic tomorrow.  

 

That's great news Amy - you have to bask in a bit of good news!  How are you feeling on the new medication?  Do you have a follow up scan at some point or rely on symptoms as a guide?  I ask as a newbie to stage 4 - it seems different for everyone how it is managed and monitored.  I am so pleased that you had some good news though.  Big hugs across cyberland to you!

I think oncologists really only start looking at BC markers once you have stage 4 disease.  I don't believe they see it as a reliable indicator of progression prior to diagnosed mets but could be wrong.  I now have stage 4 disease and as yet we are not talking markers but using CT scans to monitor the mets in my lungs and axilla node.  I believe they are monitoring my TM for the drug trial and intend asking the question at clinic tomorrow.  

 

Hi Leonie

I have oestregen and progesterone positive cancer with mets in my bones.  The tumour marker is only one indication and should not be relied on in isolation - scans etc should also be used to check the progress.  If my markers are low again in 7-8 weeks time my medical oncologist will then decide on what further scans I should have to check my progress. 

This link has a bit more information: http://breastcancer.about.com/od/diagnosis/p/tumor_mkr_ov.htm

Amy x

Hi Amy, I too have been told what Leonie was told. I would be very interested to know what this test is, as I'm sure lots of us would like to know about any sort if test that can show us how things are progressing Chris xx