Hello.
Thank you for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
I do understand your concern and trying to address it in a much possible simple method without any bias. Relapses within 2 - 3 years old patientis the dictum in many of the cancers presenting in advanced stages. However your stage is intermediate ( early ) and you are undergoing treatment right now with a curative intent. Moreover, a good ALLRED SCORE is more reliable than serum tumor markers.
Hence I consider that your prognosis will be good. At the same time, I don't want to give false reassurances.
I follow and provide answers for my patient's concern based on NCCN and ESMO recommendations. These are the guidelines followed by American and European oncologist. These guidelines do not recommend to do serum marker levels in situation like yours. I still wonder why these investigations are done when they do not add any specific benefit for deciding treatment.
Regards.
Patient replied :
Thank you for your answer.
Why do you think there are so many studies that say that positive tumor markers give a TERRIBLE prognosis?? They ALL say that. There isn't one study that says this is not true.
Do you think that the studies are wrong? Or do you think that it is just that they aren't considering my good ALLRED score?
Hello.
Many studies are done with all results pointing towards one conclusion. Many other have variable results, All trials are analysed in meta analysis which is the conclusive evidence, So far the evidence for serum marked is variable and is not yet mature.
Hence not recommended for routine clinical practice.
Kind regards,
Patient replied :
One more question--you said I have intermediate grade cancer. You know I had 8 out of 11 positive nodes, right? That is considered intermediate?
Thank you!
Hello.
Thank you for the follow up.
Not exactly as intermediate as per TNM status, but a state in between early and advanced stage of the disease.
Regards.