CA 27-29 numbers rising: Does anyone else have an issue like this?

Have had every scan you can imagine..just had a new Pet/CT..had a 1cm node
perhaps light up under left arm..we are getting ready for a bioposy..that
you so very much for your reply..🙏❤️

"That" thankyou

I have Stage 4 breast cancer mets bones. I was diagnosed in 2014 - I’m 10 years since diagnosis. My tumor marker has never been “normal” except for a couple of times. For the last year, my TM has been steadily rising from the 40s and is now 115 but I have had scans and there is no presence of cancer. I hope this makes you feel a little better.

Thank you so much for sharing this information. I'm also stage iv with mets to bones and liver (dx June 2021). I've been on a few treatments, with the most recent one being enhertu for a year now. All has been clear this past year, except for a stubborn liver met, that my oncologist and surgeon decided to cut out in June of this year. I live in Switzerland and have a treatment team there, but also have oncologist in Denver and SF that I see occasionally. I feel very blessed.

This morning, I just met with my Denver oncologist and he ran the CA 27.29 test and it was up slightly to 49 from 43 two years ago. My other doctors don't run this test. I was a bit nervous about this result, but after consulting with my doctors and seeing your post about how your number fluctuates and that you are doing so amazing with this disease, I am encouraged.

Thank you again for sharing.

I’m glad your treatment(s) are working and I’m glad I could make you feel a little better. . To be able to help others is one reason I think we go through these things. My oncologist told me that the CA 27.29 test (Im guessing maybe all of them) are not very precise so your number may not have changed at all. They look for trends over time. I get tested every 6 weeks now. I have triple positive breast cancer so I take Anastrazole daily and have infusions of Herceptin and Perjeta every three weeks. I’ve been doing this for 10 years. I feel blessed every day.

Hello,

And I'm Natalie, by the way :-). Thank you so much for sharing this information. I'm really glad the herceptin/perjeta/anastrazole combo has worked well for you. I was on herceptin for a short time and that drug was quite easy to tolerate. Hopefully, it's been the same for you. Enhertu has been a bit of a different situation with side effects, but I'm grateful it seems to be working. I hope you have a nice day and thanks again.

I too admire your spirit, and until reading this did not think of cancer with the small c. I’m only 9 months post BC diagnosis, lumpectomy, 21 days radiation and 6 months AI.
Now that blood test for CA 27.29 came back above 39, I have grown over concerned. I’ll take your advice here and give the docs the best patient I can be. That won’t be easy sometimes, but your positive approach through many changes is so encouraging. Thank you.

Welcome to connect, I am glad you decided to join us. Feel free to wander around and read or join any discussions you feel are relevant to you.
I remember how scary it was the first year after original diagnosis and treatment. I had fluctuating markers up and then down, my doctor told me that he was watching for trends. If it continued to go up and up, then they would start looking. I remember how much anxiety these markers created in me.
Have you discussed this with your doctor?

I don't have the next appointment until June.
He only briefly mentioned that he was not concerned at the moment, I have blood work before the next visit. It is just hard to see a change and not have a more thorough even if short discussion of the marker, or possible trends (ebbs and flows) and what it all means. I am a science educator at the college level and can easily grasp the topics. Thanks for asking, I am going to get to know this Mayo Clinic Connect a bit. It was an accident I stumbled upon it.

I had stage 1B triple positive breast cancer in 2022 with two invasive masses. I had a lumpectomy, chemo with Herceptin, then 25 doses of radiation. Then I had a mastectomy with immediate DIEP FLAP reconstruction. Completed Herceptin infusion. And take tamoxifen. My first CA 27.29 was 28.39 and I joked with my oncologist that it should be lower since I just finished treatment (or so I thought). She explained that it would fluctuate and the inflammation and infection can affect the results. Every 3 months my count went down, little, by little. Until two years later it was 13.28. Then, this time it shot up to 24.68. Mine has never gone up. It has always gone down. I know it’s not over 38, or as high as most of yours, but what the heck? Also, since chemo, I’ve lost 65 lbs, w/o trying to, my lymph nodes are always swollen. Radiology has biopsied two that were benign. I’m trying not to freak out. My oncologist is on maternity leave. I don’t know the doc who is covering for her, so that feels awkward… I did call oncology and the nurse of course said that she would get back to me….that was a week ago. Should I continue to pursue this or wait on them to follow up since it’s not over 38?