Tempe, AZ
A 56-year-old female asked:
If ca19-9 within normal levels or negative, are you cancer free? is there a test to show that you are in the % group that can't produce the antigen?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Ed Friedlanderanswered
Pathology 46 years experience
Misconception: Only a handful of cancers produce ca19-9, and even then it's won't be detectable at a significant level unless there's enough mass of the cancer to produce it. This is not a screening test. If levels drop to undetectable after surgery, it's no guarantee of a cure. It's most useful to follow and watch for recurrences of a known ca19-9 producing cancer.
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4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Jul 14, 2015
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