tumor markers

[preschool]

My 34yr daughter had a recurrance of her breast cancer.She had a lumpectomy and radiation.3 years later it was back in the same place.She then had a masectomy and hes just started chemo today. The nurse told har that her tumor marker was 17.3 for Ca 27-29. The marker from the test before she had the masectomy was also 17.3. The nurse said that this was unreliable because it was so low. Could it be that the cancer was caught early and that it has not spread? She had a CAT scan and it was clear. Is this good?  Scared Mom

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
Cancer antigen 27-29 (CA 27-29) can be used in monitoring for breast cancer recurrence and also response to treatment.  Your daughter’s baseline value is 17.3.  The assay can be repeated during and after treatment, and compared to the baseline value.  Results should be correlated clinically, in conjunction with other laboratory examinations.
Good luck on your daughter’s treatment.

[preschool]

When my daughter found her recurrance it was because her lumpectomy scar became red and she had tiny pepple shaped bumps below the scar.She was afraid it was IBC but it was not. After her masectomy the Docs all said it was a recurrance.Her Cat scan was clear and they said with chemo her prognois was good.They also said that her stage was still 2a as it had been before.Then I was in a chat room and someone said that all recurrances were stage IV. Then someone was talking about skin mets. I found a picture of it and it looked like the bumps my daughter had. Is their a difference between skin mets and recurrance? Can you explain the stages after recurrance . Thank you so much. Scared Mom

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
Skin metastasis and recurrence of the primary cancer in the skin could mean the same.  A recurrence or metastasis is classified as stage 4.  When there is a definite diagnosis of recurrence or metastasis, further treatment can be instituted to control the disease.  

[preschool]

I am so shocked and sad. I do not understand why my daughters Docs were not truthful with us. They never said anything about a recurrance and metastasis being the same.They even said that her prognois was the same as when she had the lumpectomy and that was a good prognois.They even said she was still stage 2a. I do not know what to think now. She is recieving chemo again. She has 4 rounds of Taxotere but I do not remember the name of the other one.My daughter is an amazing warrior. Does this mean that we should expect there to be more metasis? Thank you

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
It’s good to know that your daughter is an amazing warrior.
Skin metastasis is a form local recurrence to the operated breast.  But that too needs to be confirmed by a biopsy.  If there is indeed a local recurrence, treatment is instituted.  This also means that further work-ups need to be done in order to rule out possibility of distant metastasis.