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CA 27-29 numbers rising: Does anyone else have an issue like this?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Aug 16 10:03am | Replies (176)Comment receiving replies
@thessf14 Hi - I would like to add to Colleen’s words of advice and some earlier comments. These tumor markers are important indicators but only one tool out of many that your doctors use. I very carefully track all my numbers - CMP, CBC, CA 27.29, and the occasional other markers. Tracking all numbers allows you to establish what your baseline should be or what your ‘normal’ is. Ups and downs on all numbers are to be expected due to life style, poor blood draw, meds, surgery or lab funkiness. This allows you and your doctor to recognize an “off result” that can return to what your norm might be. I personally think my tracking also always me to take some degree of control over my cancer care. Btw - I am a September 2019 double mastectomy stage 4 - we thought I would begin chemo & radiation after surgery but a routine visit dermatologist for Lyme disease treatment resulted in finding of breast cancer to my skin. Took care of Lyme and We pivoted quickly to Verzenio and Armidex meds. I do blood draws every 4-6 weeks - it seems like yours were a year apart? So maybe time to up the frequency to see your pattern. Good luck! Ps I go to Quest and created an account which allows me to get my results back about the same time as my doctor. And I always make sure that my follow-up doc appointments allow for a week of blood processing.
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Following up on tests, markers & patient advocacy. Just had exhausting day of in person visits. I want to again emphasize the importance of controlling what you can, and remember that no one advocates better than oneself. Case in hand - after 18 mos of my CA 27.29 being in the low 20's, it more than doubled in last month to 58. B/c I can see my results on Quest, lobbed a virtual visit call to my doc. He was just looking at that test results. We discussed the change and agreed to test me in a month. So this week, I do bloodwork again, and my 27.29 goes down to 52. So an improvement but not enough. This time I get in for in-person visit and take copies of everything. Couple of other things way out of wack and I don't feel well. He has just my most recent bloodwork. We look at my paperwork and we could see from my charting there was a trend for numerous tests that haven't yet reached outside the norm. Every stage of cancer is important, but my Stage 4 diagnosis leaves me very little room for error. I am been feeling amazing for 14 of those months - walking 15K races, hiking portions of the AT, playing competitive tennis. Last 4 months been increasingly 'off'. So bloodwork supported how I feel. Now comes the fun part of eliminating reasons - med rejection, breast cancer moving, lyme flair up or possible a gall bladder of all things. Or get this - in the middle of breast reconstruction - and my body not happy with metal expanders. So in sum - I have a lot to live for and staying on top/pushing the medical field/ repeated phone calls/ copying my paperwork makes me feel better! 🙂