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

Hi, I'm new here. in Nov 2020, my wife was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer-(hormone receptive) it has metastasized throughout her spine, and is in most of her bones. She takes Verzenio daily, gets scans every 3 months, sees oncologist and gets Zometa, and Faslodex every 4 weeks-(on this last visit we got him to change the Zometa to every 3 months, after we researched it and thought maybe it is causing some of her pain). Upon diagnosis she was in really bad shape, after months of treatment she improved, but recently her pain has been getting worse-(she wears a patch, and has some oral pain meds), her most recent CT showed no growth. That's the short of it, our concern is with her CA 27-29, her oncologist tells us not to pay too much attention to it. Upon diagnosis it was 676, it went down with treatment, and stayed between 90-105, 6 months ago it was 121, and has continued to go up, last week it was 213. Her Oncologist is an optimist, and won't give any prognosis, maybe we shouldn't worry, but with the severe pain, fatigue, high CA, we're wondering if the CT scans are missing something.. Does anyone else have or has had CA numbers this high?

@tessspike. Good for you for being on top of your numbers. I am a big advocate on this site for tracking all your numbers on a chart for two reasons: 1) it helps a patient to know what is going on with their body & 2) to see trends. In your case, absolutely the knee replacement surgery can impact numbers. It might be helpful to track all your numbers a bit further back to day one. Maybe talk to your doctors to get a sense of when you can expect the surgery impact to lessen or request /look at your other numbers to see if the inflammation/surgery is reflected elsewhere. Docs like to see trends and like you pointed out, backup with scans, how you are feeling, etc. Fingers crossed for you. I am going on my 4th year as a MBC patient and have rebounded really well from when my initial meds stopped working 18 mos in. 2nd meds didn’t work but this third round seems to be doing the trick!

My oncologist doesn't do these blood markers at all. I am 9 years out and stopped letrozole at 5 years. I have no idea how I will know I am stage 4. How many of you have docs who do this testing?

Hi all - circling back on what is a thread that started in 2019 about rising tumor markers & morphed slightly about good diet, exercise & staying on top on things. It just popped back into my feed by a “like” & it reminded me that it is all still relevant. And stories change.

In July 2024 I will be 5 years in with Stage 4 breast cancer & yes now Stage 4 Mallarian (reproductive) cancer that we did not know I had until a growing brain tumor presented itself in early January 2024. Pathology identified it. Brain surgery in January, and radiation in February did their jobs.
The reproductive cancer was likely nipped when I did chemo back in mid 2021 for my breast cancer return. It just didn’t/couldn’t get this little offshoot that went to the brain & slowly grew. Physical problems presented themselves - not bloodwork - & scans confirmed. Breast cancer now turned down, malarian percolating in the special Natera/Signatera DNA disease test & in PET, not physically nor other bloodwork. And yes I have since gone skiing & did a 10 mile hike today.
My docs want me to be a person with cancer that is a small “c” - I am living with it. My “chronic” condition. We don’t react when monthly numbers change. Time of day, bad draws, diet, moon phase, really anything - can impact. We look for trends. We look at scans. We look at me. And how I am living my life. And then we react. I help myself & give them the best patient I can be through tracking my numbers, eating well, exercising, working & spending quality time with my family & friends. Who knows what will come but new treatments & sites like this give me hope! Good luck!

My oncologist doesn't do these blood markers at all. I am 9 years out and stopped letrozole at 5 years. I have no idea how I will know I am stage 4. How many of you have docs who do this testing?

Hi all - circling back on what is a thread that started in 2019 about rising tumor markers & morphed slightly about good diet, exercise & staying on top on things. It just popped back into my feed by a “like” & it reminded me that it is all still relevant. And stories change.

In July 2024 I will be 5 years in with Stage 4 breast cancer & yes now Stage 4 Mallarian (reproductive) cancer that we did not know I had until a growing brain tumor presented itself in early January 2024. Pathology identified it. Brain surgery in January, and radiation in February did their jobs.
The reproductive cancer was likely nipped when I did chemo back in mid 2021 for my breast cancer return. It just didn’t/couldn’t get this little offshoot that went to the brain & slowly grew. Physical problems presented themselves - not bloodwork - & scans confirmed. Breast cancer now turned down, malarian percolating in the special Natera/Signatera DNA disease test & in PET, not physically nor other bloodwork. And yes I have since gone skiing & did a 10 mile hike today.
My docs want me to be a person with cancer that is a small “c” - I am living with it. My “chronic” condition. We don’t react when monthly numbers change. Time of day, bad draws, diet, moon phase, really anything - can impact. We look for trends. We look at scans. We look at me. And how I am living my life. And then we react. I help myself & give them the best patient I can be through tracking my numbers, eating well, exercising, working & spending quality time with my family & friends. Who knows what will come but new treatments & sites like this give me hope! Good luck!