Q: is afp level of 30000 iu/ml and tumor marker < 5 readings in blood test indicative of liver cancer for a 70 yrs old male?

Very likely: If the AFP is &gt;1,000 units checked twice and confirmed, then it is very likely that you are dealing with Liver Cancer. This can be confirmed with the aid of a MRI scan or CT scan of the liver which will likely show a growth/tumor in the liver.

Q: if "tumor markers" are not very useful in finding cancer, why do doctors test blood for "tumor markers"?

Screening & FollowUp: Tumor markers can be positive for other reasons than cancer but are never "normally" high, so used as a screening test they can alert us to a potential cancer or other condition which needs more investigation. The hope is to catch a cancer in an early and more treatable phase. Also, for some cancers they can be markers if the effectiveness of therapy or of recurrence.

Q: i have been diagnosed with a hydrosalpinx and had tumor markers blood tests.all were ok except the ca-125 was 36.7. is that dangerous?

Possibly: An elevated ca 125 and an adnexal mass at your age needs further evaluation. I would recommend a gyn oncology evaluation.

Q: whats the chance of pancrtic cancer they call it mass called lymphadenopathy at small bowl. all blood work is normal tumor markers normal to i am 36 f?

Depends on location: The radiologist report will indicate the location of this mass. Its size matters too. Pancreatic cancer usually causes symptoms and is located behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. If the mass is more than 2cm, a biopsy would be indicated. At your age pancreatic cancer will not be high on the list of possibilities. A pet scan can also help confirm the nature of this mass, i.E cancer or noncance.

Q: currently taking penicillin for strep. i need lab tests for possible blood disorders. tests: beta 2 microglobulin, plasma viscosity and tumor markers (cea, ca 19-9) will the antibiotic affect that?

: No, PCN should not affect those test results.

Q: should normal pancreas on ct scans, ultrasound, blood work,and tumor markers be enough to alleviate my anxiety about pancreatic cancer?

Yes: Is there a family history of cancer of the pancreas that has you concerned? All tests can miss tiny areas of cancer, if you are high risk the testing should be repeated yearly or so to see if there are any changes. Sounds like you have had a pretty thorough work up, so I would rest easy, but get repeat studies if there is some risk factor.

Q: take 5000mcg biotin/day for hair & read it can falsely elevate afp tumor marker results for hcc if u dont stop for 72hrs before. is this true?

Depends: 1. Taking biotin is not doing you or your hair any good. 2. Taking large amounts of biotin will interfere with some tests that use biotin as part of the reagents for the test.Wish you good health! - Have a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and milk products, nuts, beans, legumes, lentils and small amounts of lean meats. Avoid saturated fats. Drink enough water daily, so that your urine is mostly colorless. Exercise at least 150 minutes/week and increase the intensity of exercise gradually. Do not use tobacco, alcohol, weed or street drugs in any form. Practice safe sex, if you have sex.

Q: how can you evaluate the tumor marker test?

With a grain of salt: If you are asking about tumor markers like CEA or ca125, these are substances that can go up in certain cancer patients and are mostly useful to monitor response to therapy. They are not screening tests, they do not always go up if a cancer recurs, and they may go up for non malignant causes. They are a tool to be used as part of cancer management and are often misused, myself included.

Question 1

i was wondering what does "p s a" mean in a tumor marker blood test?

Accepted Answer

PSA: Psa is an acronym for prostate specific antigen. A very high level of this marker in the blood could be indicative of prostate cancer, however there has been much debate recently as to how good a screening test it is. Higher than normal psa levels can be caused by benign growths.

Question 2

can blood tests indicate the presence of cancer? i am quite worried that i have cancer, however i have had numerous blood tests (full cbc with diff, tumor marker, thyroid, etc) all coming back normal

Accepted Answer

Blood test : The only true and diagnostic way of telling if you have cancer is not by blood test, images, CT scans. The only way is by biopsy of the tissue of concern either by CT guided, FNA, or surgical resection. By doing this a pathologist can determine the severity and aggressiveness of the cancer and specifically the type of cancer so an oncologist can modify chemotherapy to target the cancer type.

Question 3

is afp level of 30000 iu/ml and tumor marker < 5 readings in blood test indicative of liver cancer for a 70 yrs old male?

Accepted Answer

Very likely: If the AFP is &gt;1,000 units checked twice and confirmed, then it is very likely that you are dealing with Liver Cancer. This can be confirmed with the aid of a MRI scan or CT scan of the liver which will likely show a growth/tumor in the liver.

Question 4

if "tumor markers" are not very useful in finding cancer, why do doctors test blood for "tumor markers"?

Accepted Answer

Screening & FollowUp: Tumor markers can be positive for other reasons than cancer but are never "normally" high, so used as a screening test they can alert us to a potential cancer or other condition which needs more investigation.  The hope is to catch a cancer in an early and more treatable phase.  Also, for some cancers they can be markers if the effectiveness of therapy or of recurrence.

Question 5

i have been diagnosed with a hydrosalpinx and had tumor markers blood tests.all were ok except the ca-125 was 36.7. is that dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: An elevated ca 125 and an adnexal mass at your age needs further evaluation. I would recommend a gyn oncology evaluation.

Question 6

whats the chance of pancrtic cancer they call it mass called lymphadenopathy at small bowl. all blood work is normal tumor markers normal to i am 36 f?

Accepted Answer

Depends on  location: The radiologist report will indicate the location of this mass. Its size matters too. Pancreatic cancer usually causes symptoms and is located behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. If the mass is more than 2cm, a biopsy would be indicated. At your age pancreatic cancer will not be high on the list of possibilities. A pet scan can also help confirm the nature of this mass, i.E cancer or noncance.

Question 7

currently taking penicillin for strep. i need lab tests for possible blood disorders. tests: beta 2 microglobulin, plasma viscosity and tumor markers (cea, ca 19-9) will the antibiotic affect that?

Accepted Answer

: No, PCN should not affect those test results.

Question 8

should normal pancreas on ct scans, ultrasound, blood work,and tumor markers be enough to alleviate my anxiety about pancreatic cancer?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Is there a family history of cancer of the pancreas that has you concerned? All tests can miss tiny areas of cancer, if you are high risk the testing should be repeated yearly or so to see if there are any changes. Sounds like you have had a pretty thorough work up, so I would rest easy, but get repeat studies if there is some risk factor.

Question 9

take 5000mcg biotin/day for hair & read it can falsely elevate afp tumor marker results for hcc if u dont stop for 72hrs before. is this true?

Accepted Answer

Depends: 1. Taking biotin is not doing you or your hair any good.
2. Taking large amounts of biotin will interfere with some tests that use biotin as part of the reagents for the test.Wish you good health! - Have a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and milk products, nuts, beans, legumes, lentils and small amounts of lean meats. Avoid saturated fats. Drink enough water daily, so that your urine is mostly colorless. Exercise at least 150 minutes/week and increase the intensity of exercise gradually. Do not use tobacco, alcohol, weed or street drugs in any form. 
Practice safe sex, if you have sex.

Question 10

how can you evaluate the tumor marker test?

Accepted Answer

With a grain of salt: If you are asking about tumor markers like CEA or ca125, these are substances that can go up in certain cancer patients and are mostly useful to monitor response to therapy.  They are not screening tests, they do not always go up if a cancer recurs, and they may go up for non malignant causes.  They are a tool to be used as part of cancer management and are often misused, myself included.

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Doctor answers about:

How long does it take for tumor marker blood to be processed

A member asked:

I was wondering what does "p s a" mean in a tumor marker blood test?

A member asked:

Can blood tests indicate the presence of cancer? i am quite worried that i have cancer, however i have had numerous blood tests (full cbc with diff, tumor marker, thyroid, etc) all coming back normal

A member asked:

Is afp level of 30000 iu/ml and tumor marker < 5 readings in blood test indicative of liver cancer for a 70 yrs old male?

A member asked:

If "tumor markers" are not very useful in finding cancer, why do doctors test blood for "tumor markers"?

A member asked:

I have been diagnosed with a hydrosalpinx and had tumor markers blood tests.all were ok except the ca-125 was 36.7. is that dangerous?

A member asked:

Whats the chance of pancrtic cancer they call it mass called lymphadenopathy at small bowl. all blood work is normal tumor markers normal to i am 36 f?

A member asked:

Currently taking penicillin for strep. i need lab tests for possible blood disorders. tests: beta 2 microglobulin, plasma viscosity and tumor markers (cea, ca 19-9) will the antibiotic affect that?

A member asked:

Should normal pancreas on ct scans, ultrasound, blood work,and tumor markers be enough to alleviate my anxiety about pancreatic cancer?

A member asked:

Take 5000mcg biotin/day for hair & read it can falsely elevate afp tumor marker results for hcc if u dont stop for 72hrs before. is this true?

A member asked:

How can you evaluate the tumor marker test?

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