Follow-up on chemo marker high

[Tab]

In a previous post, I noted my CEA (CAE?) marker moved from 3.3 to something to 9.9 (still low) to suddenly 35. I've always had a low marker, so the 35 was most concerning to all.

A PET scan showed the previous tumors in my lungs (treated with stereotactic radiation) were a bit active, but not such that it would zoom the marker.

The thought is that generally the cancer has spread much more, but hasn't taken hold in any one place to be visible yet, which would account for a high marker but nothing to target.

So I'm going to try Xeloda, a FU-5 variant, in a low dose and see if it makes an effect. Both FU-5 and Xeloda are antimetabolites and pyrimidine antagonists, and I've had so much FU-5 over the last last 5 years it may not have an effect (I may have built up a tolerance) and/or it may have a separate set of side effects. I don't know how I'll tolerate it, but we'll try it for 8 weeks or so and do another scan and play it by ear.

- Tab

[Hoyt]

1. Good luck. I admire your spirit and courage. Keep us informed.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Hope that it works for you. Good Luck.

[Tab]

3. Thanks, all

will keep you posted

[Tab]

4. Just picked up my prescription today

My pharmacist, after reading basic instructions (twice a day, don't chew or crush it, etc) then said, not from the literature, just what she learned: "this is a very potent. Keep it away from any children".

I don't think I've ever been warned that way before. Sounds like fun.

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. Best wishes to you Tab

Let us know how you are doing.

[Tab]

6. well, this oral chemo is almost as bad as the last

Not eating (no appetitite) not drinking, mouth sores, finger and foot sores (hard to walk or drive) rough voice, and sleeping up to 16 hours a day (BP was 80/60). We decided to stop it for now, and give it a few weeks and try again at half-dose. Sounds familiar. Wait and see, I guess.

- Tab

[slipslidingaway]

7. Sorry to hear this Tab ...

and hopefully the docs are helping you manage some of the symptoms.

[Evoman]

8. My CEA are consistenly over 140.

There has been some progression in my cancer, and after my last break, my CEA numbers shot up. I'm back on hardcore chemo now, so my numbers have dropped some, but they are still high. No new tumours or anything, but it has me worried.

I was recently hospitalized (check Atheist and Agnostic forum for better update) and was forced to take a break from chemo so I'm extremely worried about my next scan. I had a scan at the hospital but it wasnt a full one.

[Solly Mack]

9. You're in my thoughts.

((((Tab))))

[Tab]

10. My chemo marker reduced a LITTLE, but I ended up in the hospital for other reasons

The time on the Xeloda was miserable, but it dropped the marker from 34.5 to 30.2 or something like that. I can't tolerate Xeloda in that dose, however. Aside from other side effects (got them all) I didn't eat for a few weeks and GI problems and whatever made me super dehydrated, blood pressure a few times was 80/60 - once 78/48, and then my kidney's stopped putting out and they put me in the emergency room, and after a few days of outpatient trips to get saline infusions (via IV), kidney level was much closer to normal and blood pressure was up. I haven't been to work for a few weeks now. Hopefully next week.

Thanks for everyone's well wishes.