Talk Cancer

Question:

from 61 to 41. Just wondering if you knew what the difference was between CA 15-3 and CA 27.29.  I  know that some dr’/hospitals measure the latter instead of the former–but was not able to find out how they were actually different, if at all, in terms of what is actually being assessed.   I am not even sure why a swich was made unless they are the same and one test is less expensive to run than the other???

Response:

Hi, guys – We went to see Dr. Smiley yesterday and after half a dozen weeks of Herceptin Deborah’s CEA has dropped from 4.9 to 4.6 and her CA15-3 from 61 to 41.

Yay, Yay, YAY, *YAY*! <cheerleader Beat it back, beat it back, waaaaaaay back! </cheerleader This is great news; thanks for sharing.  Here’s hoping for more of the same, and better, in weeks to come. Best to you both, Ann T.

Response:

Just wondering if you knew what the difference was between CA 15-3 and CA 27.29.  I  know that some dr’/hospitals measure the latter instead of the former–but was not able to find out how they were actually different, if at all, in terms of what is actually being assessed.   I am not even sure why a swich was made unless they are the same and one test is less expensive to run than the other???

They measure two different proteins but the normal range is the same (0-29 mcg/ml).  Here’s an interesting read – http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/content/full/45/5/630 — we see things not as they are, but as we are. — Anais Nin

Response:

<< We went to see Dr. Smiley yesterday and after half a dozen weeks of Herceptin Deborah’s CEA has dropped from 4.9 to 4.6 and her CA15-3 from 61 to 41. I was a bit skeptical about Herceptin working a second time around but it appears to be doing the trick.  We added Navelbine to the mix now Allan, that’s fantastic–so glad to hear.  I wasn’t skeptical about the Herceptin and Navelbine working again–’cause it had still been working at the time it was discontinued, wasn’t it?  I might have been skeptical had it stopped working back then.  However, I have heard of chemo drugs still working on some of the cancer cells s even if they still don’t work on all of ‘em.  It is such an individual and ‘tricky’ disease to treat.  One size does NOT fit all….

Response:

Wonderful news ! A co worker had surgery for implants a month ago and still not back to work yet!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, guys – We went to see Dr. Smiley yesterday and after half a dozen weeks of Herceptin Deborah’s CEA has dropped from 4.9 to 4.6 and her CA15-3 from 61 to 41. I was a bit skeptical about Herceptin working a second time around but it appears to be doing the trick.  We added Navelbine to the mix now so we’re officially back on chemo but so far results are promising. Deborah was a little tired after treatment but is okay so far.  The day after Herceptin is usually worst for the slight allergic reaction she’s had and Dr. Smiley couldn’t really explain why she’s reacting this time and didn’t three years ago but each treatment seems to get a little easier. Anyway, life is good.  So far we’re still hitting this thing with everything we’ve got – so Deborah is taking daily Arimidex and monthly Zoladex in addition to weekly Herceptin and Navelbine on day 1 and 8 of a 21 day cycle. I guess there’s still a bit of fight left in the girl.  We really needed some good news. The only down side was re Deborah’s dental implants.  Dr, Smiley and Deborah’s oral surgeon decided not to do the implants anytime soon so she’s kinda stuck with a couple of plates instead of the high-tech stuff she had planned.  Maybe we can revisit this when we get off chemo. But all in all, woohoo!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, guys – We went to see Dr. Smiley yesterday and after half a dozen weeks of Herceptin Deborah’s CEA has dropped from 4.9 to 4.6 and her CA15-3 from 61 to 41. I was a bit skeptical about Herceptin working a second time around but it appears to be doing the trick.  We added Navelbine to the mix now so we’re officially back on chemo but so far results are promising. Deborah was a little tired after treatment but is okay so far.  The day after Herceptin is usually worst for the slight allergic reaction she’s had and Dr. Smiley couldn’t really explain why she’s reacting this time and didn’t three years ago but each treatment seems to get a little easier. Anyway, life is good.  So far we’re still hitting this thing with everything we’ve got – so Deborah is taking daily Arimidex and monthly Zoladex in addition to weekly Herceptin and Navelbine on day 1 and 8 of a 21 day cycle. I guess there’s still a bit of fight left in the girl.  We really needed some good news. The only down side was re Deborah’s dental implants.  Dr, Smiley and Deborah’s oral surgeon decided not to do the implants anytime soon so she’s kinda stuck with a couple of plates instead of the high-tech stuff she had planned.  Maybe we can revisit this when we get off chemo. But all in all, woohoo!

Hi Allan, It sure is great to hear that Deborah is doing ok on the current regimen and that the markers are showing improvement!  Give her my best wishes and most positive thoughts for continued good result.  Take good care of each other! Barb

Response:

allan, Thanks so much for sharing this good news.  I’m thrilled for you and Deborah. Praying that it continues! Take care. …lisa

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, guys – We went to see Dr. Smiley yesterday and after half a dozen weeks of Herceptin Deborah’s CEA has dropped from 4.9 to 4.6 and her CA15-3 from 61 to 41. I was a bit skeptical about Herceptin working a second time around but it appears to be doing the trick.  We added Navelbine to the mix now so we’re officially back on chemo but so far results are promising. Deborah was a little tired after treatment but is okay so far.  The day after Herceptin is usually worst for the slight allergic reaction she’s had and Dr. Smiley couldn’t really explain why she’s reacting this time and didn’t three years ago but each treatment seems to get a little easier. Anyway, life is good.  So far we’re still hitting this thing with everything we’ve got – so Deborah is taking daily Arimidex and monthly Zoladex in addition to weekly Herceptin and Navelbine on day 1 and 8 of a 21 day cycle. I guess there’s still a bit of fight left in the girl.  We really needed some good news. The only down side was re Deborah’s dental implants.  Dr, Smiley and Deborah’s oral surgeon decided not to do the implants anytime soon so she’s kinda stuck with a couple of plates instead of the high-tech stuff she had planned.  Maybe we can revisit this when we get off chemo. But all in all, woohoo!

I’m very, very pleased for you both. Bugger the implants, they can wait. Love, Mary

Response:

Hi, guys – We went to see Dr. Smiley yesterday and after half a dozen weeks of Herceptin Deborah’s CEA has dropped from 4.9 to 4.6 and her CA15-3 from 61 to 41. I was a bit skeptical about Herceptin working a second time around but it appears to be doing the trick.  We added Navelbine to the mix now so we’re officially back on chemo but so far results are promising. Deborah was a little tired after treatment but is okay so far.  The day after Herceptin is usually worst for the slight allergic reaction she’s had and Dr. Smiley couldn’t really explain why she’s reacting this time and didn’t three years ago but each treatment seems to get a little easier. Anyway, life is good.  So far we’re still hitting this thing with everything we’ve got – so Deborah is taking daily Arimidex and monthly Zoladex in addition to weekly Herceptin and Navelbine on day 1 and 8 of a 21 day cycle. I guess there’s still a bit of fight left in the girl.  We really needed some good news. The only down side was re Deborah’s dental implants.  Dr, Smiley and Deborah’s oral surgeon decided not to do the implants anytime soon so she’s kinda stuck with a couple of plates instead of the high-tech stuff she had planned.  Maybe we can revisit this when we get off chemo. But all in all, woohoo!

Response: