A member asked:

Is there a difference between the result for hcg for pregnancy and for cancer?

2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Michael Engel answered

Specializes in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

The same hormone....: Is being measured, beta-hcg ( human chorionic gonadotropin), but obviously the circumstances are completely different. When we measure b-hcg for cancer, we are thinking about germ cell tumors, and there is often a clinical suspicion guiding that thinking and work up. The clinical scenario for pregnancy (unprotected sex, missed period, breast swelling, etc.) is obviously different. Why do u ask?

Answered 11/2/2015

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Pregnancy beta : Beta fraction , yes HCG or common pregnancy test will be positive in certain cancers including men , in pregnancy beta fraction involved , even though it is positive in certain cancers like chriocarinomas , germ cell tumors , ovarian cancers including testicular tumors , breast tumors etc not popular tumor marker like psa , ca 125 , ca19.9 , CEA etc.

Answered 2/13/2015

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