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How Long Does Cancer Metastasis Take To Become Resistant To Aromasin?

Posted on Thu, 23 Jul 2015

Question: i have written before, but I am still suffering from anxiety as I bet my ca27.29 blood work done in two weeks. History: Stage 2b hormone receptive breast cancer in 1998. 6/13 nodes positive. No problems until XXXXXXX 2013. Markers were 98, then 104. Had bone scan-normal, cat scan, pet scan. three nodes lit up on the scan. Two in my chest wall and one in the groin. I had the groin node taken out and it was hyperplasia. No cancer. My onc said the nodes in my chest could not be biopsied. Put me on aromasen and my marker went into the normal range. In March they were 36.2. Does that mean the cancer is acting up and I can expect high markers this month? How long before cancer mets become resistant to aromasin? Can I expect the cancer to move to an organ soon? I checked my chart online and it says I have metastatic breast cancer. why didn't the nodes show up on a cat scan. I can barely function. Is there any hope?

Answered by Dr. Monish De (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Cancer mets become resistant to aromasin in about 3 years

Detailed Answer:
Hi

The normal range of serum CA 27-29 in breast cancer is less than 38 U/mL

Since your tumour marker is 36.2 in March it is absolutely normal and you do not need to worry

Cancer mets become resistant to aromasin in about 3 years

There is no chance of the cancer moving to an organ so soon

The nodes did not show in cat scan because sometimes the scan can give false negative result and that is why PET scan should be done

There is still hope and i would advise you to repeat a blood test for CA 27-29

If it is still less than 38 then there is nothing to worry

Regards

DR DE

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar

Follow up: Dr. Monish De (18 minutes later)

are there other AIs available? i already had tomaxifin and femara. also the 2 nodes in my chest were the size of a pea

So eventually i will have to do chemo then the inevitable? i went 15 years doing so well.

Answered by Dr. Monish De (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Anastrozole AI is available other than femara and Aromasin

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Anastrozole AI is available other than femara and Aromasin

As the 2 nodes were very small in size in your chest there is nothing to worry

When your tumour marker CA 27-29 becomes more than 38 then you will need chemotherapy

Average survival time for non metastatic breast cancer patient is more than 15 years

Average survival time in metastatic breast cancer patients is around 5 years

If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread

Regards

DR DE

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Monish De (21 hours later)

Why would the node that lit up on the pet scan in my groin not be cancer, but the two in my chest are-even without a biopsy. Inflammation a possibility? Can that make markers rise.

Answered by Dr. Monish De (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
inflammation can cause node to lit up

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Sometimes inflammation can cause node to lit up on pet scan and make markers rise.

So there is still hope.

Regards

DR DE

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar