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

Hi Diane - After 16 years of no detectable cancer I’m now 1 year into treatment for BC mets to the bone. My 27/29 started at 2800 (doc said my PET lite up like a Christmas tree) and we’ve gotten it down to 384 with Ibrance/Letrisole ( 8 months) then Afinitor/Faslodex (4 months). Most people here seem to be concerned if they’re above 40 with the 27/29 - so I’m interested to see someone higher. But it’s going up again. My onc doc does a PET scan before deciding if I need to change meds. I have a protein mutation (PIK3CA) that can be targeted with piqray (alpelisib) tablets.

Thanks for your response. I am 3 years into treatment for return of my BC to lung and bones. Ibrance did not work for me and I got worse on it. However I am doing well with Afinitor, exemestane and Faslodex injections as well as Xgeva for the bone Mets. However the tumor marker continues to rise🤔All we can do is press on, take our pills, get our scans and LIVE our life.
Curious that yours came down so much and hope they will find the best approach.

Diane - I guess tumor markers are, as they say, just tools that point us in a direction. I don’t know why I’m feeling so much better and at the same time markers (27-29) are rising. The upcoming PET will tell us more. Best to you. Adana

This is happening a lot. Because of the new federal law everyone gets all the test results immediately in the portal. Test results telling them they have cancer or that it has metastasized or grown show up in portal, then they can’t see the doctor for a week or more to get the translation. We field a lot of the questions now, I remember when my doctor told me, I am sure grateful he was there for me.
I think this is a great idea for an article, very relevant today.

Hello everyone,
Recently I had a CA 27-29 test and want to know how to interpret my results. Is there a numerical range that is given to interpret the results? My value was 10.7. Can breast cancer survivors ever reach a score of 0?

@crane67, welcome. A normal range is less or equal to 38.6 units per millimeter (U/mL). Keep in mind that the CA 27.29 reference range can vary slightly from one lab to the next.

To help you connect with other members like @lisakinpa @jemma17 @lazomama @mssewest @cctoo, I moved your question about interpreting CA 27-29 results to this existing discussion:

- CA 27-29 numbers rising: Does anyone else have an issue like this? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ca-27-29-consistently-high-in-the-40s/

A single value is less important than how the results trend over time. Thus the test is generally used to monitor and notice whether there is a change in your values.

Crane, have you discussed the results of your test with your oncologist? What type of breast cancer do you have and what treatments are you having?

crane 67, your number wss low...!y dr said anything under 38 is normal. i have recurrance and my number is only 9!!

I had first annual post-lumpectomy mammo, ultrasound and physical exams the other day.

My tumor markers around and the oncologist said his rule of thumb is that any number that is at least 50% higher than the previous one or a consistent rising trendline merits some attention but otherwise he's not concerned. I once had a sophisticated cardio evaluation series of tests and the cardiologist gave little attention to the C-reactive protein component as, while it's a way of looking at inflammation levels in the body, there are multiple causes of inflammation, including the change to a better more nutritious diet, so the number in isolation isn't very helpful. I think tumor markers have an analogous issue as they too respond to inflammation that isn't necessarily cancer-related?

I was Stage 2 on Femera x 5 years. Off almost 1 year. Started having bad hot flashes and fatigue. Ca27-29 not abnormal but rise from June last year from 18.2 to 31.4. Also had CT that showed small nodes to be re-evaluated in 6 months CT was done in July.
Is it normal for Ca27-29 to jump thst much in a year?

Hi Trudy and welcome.

To help you connect with other members like @lisakinpa @jemma17 @lazomama @mssewest @cctoo, I moved your question about interpreting CA 27-29 results to this existing discussion:

– CA 27-29 numbers rising: Does anyone else have an issue like this? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ca-27-29-consistently-high-in-the-40s/

You may wish to read the previous messages to see that CA 27-29 is not used alone to monitor breast cancer. A single value is less important than how the results trend over time. Thus the test is generally used to monitor and notice whether there is a change in your values.

Were all your CA 27-29 tests done at the same lab? Where were the small nodes shown on the CT scan?