CA 19-9 levels

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Zig2017
Posts: 139
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 12:26 pm

CA 19-9 levels

Postby Zig2017 » Fri Nov 17, 2017 5:30 pm

Ok - I don't know if this is humanly possible. Can a person really have a CA19-9 of - get this - 132,458?? I know my husband's CEA is 1,807.7, but could that six figure number be right???? I went in to his patient portal and read the labs. He's metastatic, but really?!

Also, Mr. Ziggy is taking Prilosec for the past couple of days. They said he is now ineligible for the clinical trial because his AST is 124. The ALT is 39 (just a smidge high which is ok). Could Prilosec raise the AST?

Many of you really are experts in all of this... any ideas? Thanks for any responses!
Hubby stage 3C June 2017
MSS BRAF Mutation
18 LN positive
Adenosquamous CC
12 FOLFOX
Right Hemicolectomy
11/08/17 numerous nodules and lymph nodes throughout chest and abdomen. Stage IV.
11/2017 moved care to Sloan clinical trial for BRAF mutation
1/30/18 off clinical trial
2/2/18 one dose of Irinotecan
2/5/18 Hospitalization and hospice
2/16/18 came home from hospital and went home to his Lord at 1:10 pm

rp1954
Posts: 1849
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:13 am

Re: CA 19-9 levels

Postby rp1954 » Sat Nov 18, 2017 2:12 am

Yes, CA199 can go that high but usually in other cancer, certain injuries, or large mass. It would be useful to see the entire blood dataset, including non-cancer panels because there can be information in the combined set that may suggest the potential magnification of the CA19-9 value or overall situation or treatment options.

Those who follow a blood program like we've used, discussed before, are broadly better prepared data wise for surprises. This is especially helpful when drs quit or stumble on you like some we've dealt with.

As a side note, BRAF mutation implies a very high production of hypoxia inducible factor, HIF-2a and histamine that accelerate angiogenisis. Excess histamine has other effects too. We've used high dose IV vitamin C and some oral selenium to help regulate HIF. Extra vitamin C destroys excess histamine. These are a few of the supplements that may help sensitize or potentiate 5FU inhibition of RAS/RAF mutant cancer cells. The early cimetidine-5FU Matsumoto papers showed unusually good survival for patients with high CA19-9 cell expression (that likely implied BRAF mutants statistically) when cimetidine was added to their 5FU. Likewise, celecoxib also improves 5FU performance for us.

Basically when the heat was on, we trialed more adjuncts quicker, with more blood tests to improve on, from cancer markers to inflammation and thinner blood.
watchful, active researcher and caregiver for stage IVb/c CC. surgeries 4/10 sigmoid etc & 5/11 para-aortic LN cluster; 8 yrs immuno-Chemo for mCRC; now no chemo
most of 2010 Life Extension recommendations and possibilities + more, some (much) higher, peaking ~2011-12, taper chemo to almost nothing mid 2018, IV C-->2021. Now supplements

Zig2017
Posts: 139
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 12:26 pm

Re: CA 19-9 levels

Postby Zig2017 » Sat Nov 18, 2017 8:06 am

Wow this explains why 5FU was completely useless for my husband. Also explains why the local oncologist wanted to add the Avastin to second line of treatment (Folfiri was going to be next line). Also explains why his disease is changing exponentially. Thank you so much! He is high on some other things on the panel, (ex: lactate dehydrogenase is 583) and a few other things. I've often wondered with the adenosquamous tumor he has - what if this is mets and started somewhere else? But his pancreas and other organs are ok. (Lung is being watched, and there are numerous lymph nodes and nodules throughout mediastinum (sp) and abdomen which can now be felt). Very fast moving. Thank you so much!
Hubby stage 3C June 2017
MSS BRAF Mutation
18 LN positive
Adenosquamous CC
12 FOLFOX
Right Hemicolectomy
11/08/17 numerous nodules and lymph nodes throughout chest and abdomen. Stage IV.
11/2017 moved care to Sloan clinical trial for BRAF mutation
1/30/18 off clinical trial
2/2/18 one dose of Irinotecan
2/5/18 Hospitalization and hospice
2/16/18 came home from hospital and went home to his Lord at 1:10 pm

Zig2017
Posts: 139
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 12:26 pm

Re: CA 19-9 levels

Postby Zig2017 » Thu Nov 23, 2017 10:50 am

Update! Mr. Ziggy’s AST came down to 90 after they gave him a big bag of fluid. Apparently it went up and came back down about 3 or 4 days later. He is now on the BEACON trial for BRAF mutant cancer. He is on the 3 drug arm of the trial! This is wonderful news to us! the three drugs target EGFR, BRAF, and then they have Cetuximab in there as well. It’s showing promising results! Just wanted to give an update and hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Hubby stage 3C June 2017
MSS BRAF Mutation
18 LN positive
Adenosquamous CC
12 FOLFOX
Right Hemicolectomy
11/08/17 numerous nodules and lymph nodes throughout chest and abdomen. Stage IV.
11/2017 moved care to Sloan clinical trial for BRAF mutation
1/30/18 off clinical trial
2/2/18 one dose of Irinotecan
2/5/18 Hospitalization and hospice
2/16/18 came home from hospital and went home to his Lord at 1:10 pm

User avatar
susie0915
Posts: 945
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:17 am
Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: CA 19-9 levels

Postby susie0915 » Thu Nov 23, 2017 11:38 am

Awesome news. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

mhf1986
Posts: 158
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2017 8:30 pm
Location: near DC

Re: CA 19-9 levels

Postby mhf1986 » Thu Nov 23, 2017 12:04 pm

Glad the Tuesday tests worked out! Our oncologist says "look at the trend, not the day" which means we don't make moves quickly.

Happy Thanksgiving! (we are having duck, not turkey, as it's DH's favorite)

M
Caregiver to DH, dx @ 50, mets to liver/lungs, MSS, wild
9/16 CEA 114, blockage, left hemi, perm. colostomy
11/16 port in, FOLFOX + Avastin
6/17 CEA 15, 5FU + A only due to neuropathy
11/17 CEA 38, CAPOX + A
1/18 CAPOX = hi bilirubin/bad hfs, back to FOLFOX + A
5/18 growth; Vectibex + 75% Irinotecan
7/18 CEA 23, shrinkage
10/18 CEA 28, growth of 2 liver tumors/shrinkage of few and lung nodes
11/18 Lonsurf, looking at spheres, proton, trials
11/19/18 Peace

Zig2017
Posts: 139
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 12:26 pm

Re: CA 19-9 levels

Postby Zig2017 » Thu Nov 23, 2017 1:18 pm

I've never had duck, MH! I hope you have a wonderful blessed Thanksgiving and can relax for a bit! Love, Mrs. Ziggy
Hubby stage 3C June 2017
MSS BRAF Mutation
18 LN positive
Adenosquamous CC
12 FOLFOX
Right Hemicolectomy
11/08/17 numerous nodules and lymph nodes throughout chest and abdomen. Stage IV.
11/2017 moved care to Sloan clinical trial for BRAF mutation
1/30/18 off clinical trial
2/2/18 one dose of Irinotecan
2/5/18 Hospitalization and hospice
2/16/18 came home from hospital and went home to his Lord at 1:10 pm


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