Tumor Markers

hi , im new to the message board. i was diagnosed last dec. with cervical with a jr. granulosa tumor and ovarian all stage 4 d. after surgery and aggressive chemo and radiation about 8 months worth. they told me the first of oct. that at this time there is not any cancer apparent.  but i keep hearing them say that there are tumor markers. i assume in my blood. they dont tell me direct. i hear them talking amongst themselves. what does this mean?

Hi,
You can look up tumor markers on the web. From what I understand they do not actually garantee you have cancer. That is just one thing they look at. When I was diagnosed my tumor marker was at 226. It is now down to 1.6... my CA-19-9 was 1,900.
Tumor markers are used to se how the chemo is working. Having said that they can also rise at times, depending on chemo meds.
I have stage4 colon cancer, my markers are checked
only every 6 months.Mainly to see if the chemo appears to be working, along with CT every 4 months.
Margaret

Hi. thanks for the info. I have no clue as to what my marker count is as they never have told me. My dr. is an excellent dr. he is chief of staff of obgyn and oncology and university hospital in san antonio tx. but they dont always tell you anything. the intern that was assigned to my case for radiation was the one that told me i had a granulosa tumor with the cervical which is unusual .(i guess). also the ovarian. the whole thing is over my head. i have just sat back and done what they said. chemo at university and radiation at ctrc. 6 weeks of 5 days a week radiation plus 2 treatments with the internal seed. 8 mo. of chemo. glad its done for a while. permanently i hope. does anybody have any suggestions on places to go for financial help? i have been trying to help people in the area where i live to get some help. our county has no money. medicaid is hard to get unless you lie.

Medicaid was not hard for me to get. My doctor sent a letter and I don't know what else.... he stepped in though and mine was approved the first time. I had been told it would be denied the first time and to keep appealing, I know some people have had to use a lawyer.
I don't know of any other ways to get help... maybe the Cancer Society does.
Margaret

Hi,
Other than Medicaid I don't know of direct financial help. Perhaps a foundation like Lance Armstrong Foundation can help. For people traveling to other places, there are other forms of help that I came across in an earlier message on this forum.

Free flights for cancer patients are available through

http://www.angelflightcentral.org/

or

http://www.corpangelnetwork.org/



I heard there is also free lodging through Hope Lodge

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SHR/content/SHR_2.1_x_Hope_Lod

I have no direct knowledge of this - just passing on the info I found on this board.

Take care,
Priya.

Shirley,

Ask questions!!! Ask what something means. Ask what tumor markers are and what does it mean in your case. If your doctor is that good he'll answer your questions and if you don't understand what he means, tell him and ask him to explain it differently until you do. If he simply can't, ask him to refer you to a nurse that has an understanding of your records and will take the time to help explain what's going on. This is information you need to know insted of being worried about.

You need to research as much as you can about your diagnosis and ask your doctor qeustions.  Dont be intimidated by the doctors they are there for you.  You need to know as much as possible about your disease and where you are with treatment and how you are responding to treatments.  I agree with the other comment - if you dont understand what they are telling you - have them explain it so you do understand.- if they are not willing to do that for you - you need to find a new doc!!  My husband has cancer and the first doctors we went to said he was inoperable and there was limited treatment - we research and went to a group of doctors about 5 hours away that specialized in his type cancer.  He had surgery in August and is having a second surgery in March and they feel he will be disease free after the next surgery..    You can never be too informed and dont always take what they tell you - get a second opinion as in our case it could save your life!!  God Bless and good luck!!

Hi Margaret, I just finished 11 olut of 12 reaments for colon cancer, theneuropathy got to wher I opted oujt the last treatment, then they tell me 80% of the treament is good, I should have stopped at ten and wouldn't have this in my hands and feet, did you have that side effect, if so, has it gone away?

Try your State leel, I am from little WV and they have a Catastrophic Health Fund that not many know about, so you may want to check with them,  my chemo is n ot covered and they are picking all of it up Praise God....Debbie from West Virginia