Tumor Markers ???

Hi everyone ...
   Like everyone else I guess, I'm looking to grab any good news with regard to this disease and value your opinions.  After eleven doses of GemCis treatment, my partner's particular markers (adenosquamous carcinoma) have come down from 10,000 at the beginning, to 6,500 a month ago to 2,750 today.  How good - or misleading - is this please? 

emcee,

The trend is down and it is the trend to which you should pay attention rather than the actual numbers.  Downward trend is good; appears treatment is working.  This is good news.

Joan L

As I understand the "markers" ... you want the marker to become zero...so decreasing from 10,000 to 2500 or so, is great!

 My husband's marker has been growing by leaps and bounds since Jan... so at this point, the chemo we were using  is NOT working. ... not stopping the cancer growth.  We are looking for a clinical trial that he can be part of.  Good news, not bed ridden... but his left hip ( masteticized to the bones)is very sore and tight. He needs a cane or walker now.

His pancreatic surgery - whipple- was in April 07

What does the oncologist say?

cg

 

  They're very pleased with her progress cg.  Overall though, I wasn't too sure how much emphasis to place on the markers, which is why I posted.  These sites are so valuable in posting and getting replies to what, must be for all of us, alien territory.  Although I went through this with my wife as well some fourteen years ago, we only had the benefits of one month between her diagnosis and her passing .... so sites like this can literally make the difference in obtaining the best set of options for your loved ones.  Thanks for yours.

My husband's oncologist said that if numbers are going down, it's a sign of a response to treatment.  Still a CT Scan will be more indicative that the tumor is shrinking.  

Hi I have stage 4 pancreatic cancer with tumor makers of 107000.00 very high, zero is the greatest. so since you have improvement I would be jumping for joy, as it is working. Do you know anything about  ozone blood therapy? Good luck, and many happy days to you and your partner  Paula

On 7/2/2009 emcee46 wrote:

Hi everyone ...
   Like everyone else I guess, I'm looking to grab any good news with regard to this disease and value your opinions.  After eleven doses of GemCis treatment, my partner's particular markers (adenosquamous carcinoma) have come down from 10,000 at the beginning, to 6,500 a month ago to 2,750 today.  How good - or misleading - is this please? 

 

my brother dx dec 2008  started gemzar and xeloda.

CA19-9 was 1190

done 8 full cycles, tumor = stable

CA 19-9 went down to 560 then 250  now last week = 148

That is good.

I have read / heard normal for CA19-9 is like 30.  whatever trend down=good. backed up by CT scans show same or smaller

Also how do you feel = good indicator.