I'm on my second round of maintenance Xeloda. I just got the numbers of my recent cancer markers. My ONC had left me a message my tumor markers were doing fine. However, when I got the actual numbers today I became quite concerned. I do have a call out to my ONC, but you know how that goes - my urgency is not their urgency.
In the last month, my CEA has gone from 2.3 to 2.8. Ok, not a huge jump, but still a 1/2 point.
My CA 19-9, which has always been the first to go up with active cancer went from 19.9 to 23.8. Anything under 33 is considered normal, and in the past I do hang out around 22 - but I was 19 three weeks ago. A four point jump doesn't sound encouraging to me. I'll be retested again in 3 weeks and I know if it is elevated again, I'm back to playing the "Whack a Mole" game.
I dont' know if Xeloda could be responsible for the increases. My last scan showed no active cancer, but I know this just means nothing that can be picked up on the scan. My problem has always been the tiny microscopic stuff.
Has anyone on maintenance Xeloda seen a slight elevation in their CEA at the beginning?
I was just so hoping I'd have 6 months of not having to worry about the beast. I'm all set to get back to work..but if I have to go back on FOLFIRI soon, I just don't know how I'm going to manage it.
-Ashlee