Posted 3/1/2013 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
I have an issue i hope someone can shed some light on.
Wife had BrC in late 80's (age 37) and again in 1991. Two separate cancers, diff pathology. Same breast. First time lumpectomy and rad, second time mastectomy.
She has been disease free ever since.
At first her follow up visits were every 3 months, then every six months, then at 5 years once a year.
Till about 5 years ago. Her CA 15-3 which had always been in the 20's, jumped (actually i think trended) into the 30's, and bounced around between 35 and 40 for about 4 years. After 2 years of no real trend up, he moved the visits to every 6 months, because he felt that it was nothing, just her new normal.
The last two readings, which were 6 months ago, and this week, were both the same, at 33.
It has now been 4-5 years since this all started. Still no symptoms, and no sign of a rising trend. But the Onco, wants her to continue to come in every six months.
I just wonder about this. It seems to me if this were something that needed to be watched, we would have seen something more after 4-5 years. But i am not a Dr so we just follow his instructions. BTW the original Dr that she was seeing who moved it to one year visits, has since retired and the one she is seeing now is his son. Seems very competent. We trust him, and my wife doesnt want to change because she knows him. I just wonder why at this point we dont move back to one year. When i ask, he just says, to be careful, leave it at 6 months for the forseeable future. These visits and tests are so stressful for her, I;m sure i dont have to explain that to anyone here. Thats why i wish he would move it to 1 year.
I have done a lot of reading, i know that CA 15-3 is controversial as to its value, and i know that some drs do not use it. But her Doc does, so we go with i.
Any experience, or thoughts on this?