A 34-year-old member asked:
what is the ca 15-3 test? what kind of cancer?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Gurmukh Singhanswered
Pathology 49 years experience
Breast cancer: Ca 15-3 levels can be used to monitor the course of breast cancer. If a patient with breast cancer has elevated ca 15-3 levels the blood levels of the marker are a measure of the amount of tumor and can be followed to judge the response to treatment. It is not useful as a diagnostic test.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 46-year-old member asked:
My ca 15-3 level got higher. Does that mean there is cancer returning?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Gurmukh Singhanswered
Pathology 49 years experience
Likely: If you were treated for a cancer and the ca 15-3 levels went down after treatment, and the level is going up now, that would be an indication of cancer recurrence. You should consult your doctor to rule out other causes of elevation of ca 15-3.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
GB
A 49-year-old female asked:
My CA 15-3 is 28 now a week later it's 31, why would it elevate I do not have cancer as far as I know?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Sewa Leghaanswered
Medical Oncology 50 years experience
Why was it checked?: It is a non specific test. By itself alone it does not help us to do this test. There is no statistically significant difference in these two values. I would not do it again , and ignore it unless something else is bothering you. Tell us why it was done in the first place and why did you seek medical attention????
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Last updated Jun 23, 2012
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