Cancer Treatment Options Forum - February 14th, 2011 - 3 Comments
Stage IIIA Breast cancer, CHEMO, but cancer cells keep going up?!?!?
my mom got diagnosed in June w/ Stage IIIa breast cancer. She never had a lump that she could feel and always went for her mammograms every year (doctors missed it they said because her breasts were very dense) She started Chemo after a double mastectomy. Everytime before she goes for chemo they test her cancer cells. They started off at a 26 and now they are up to 51… (after her 1st round of chemo) The docs are ordering for another full body scan to see if the cancer spread… (it had shown it hadnt prior) Is this bad news? Does this mean chemo is not working? Anyone else experience this? Should I prepare for the worst?
I think you are talking about tumor markers, and although some dr.’s use this as a measuring tool, it is not always an accurate too. Doing scans (PET, CT, MRI’s) are better able to detect cancer in the body. Nothing can pick up one little cancer cell. I also understand what you are going through, I finished chemo in May and it is difficult, but doable. God bless and I will add your mom to my prayers!
It could have spread to other places. It does not mean it is fatal they might have to use a stronger Chemo. Do not prepare for the worst just stay positive and stay strong for you mother. My mom had Breast Cancer and so did my Grandmother. SO I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THREW. stay strong.
I don’t know what you mean by the 26 and 51 numbers, they can not count the amount of cancer cells but they can count the number on individual tumors. They refer to how many tumors there are and the size in cm. Maybe the numbers refer to some kind of blood count?
One round of Chemo will not give you results or let you know how good it going, relax and let the chemo do it’s job. After 3 or 4 rounds they will know if this chemo regiment is the right one. If it doesn’t do the job they will try a new chemo combination.
If they are doing a full ct scan that is great, let them do it and you can stay on top of the cancer. If it does spread (Metastasize ) it is not the end and don’t give up. The key to survival is to keep it out of the major organs (heart, liver, brain….) and you can survive and treat it. I wish you the best and God Bless.