High tumor markers

Tumor is a very common disease in modern medicine. As more and more people are suffering from tumors, the impact of tumors on people's lives is increasing, so medicine has developed many treatment methods for tumors.

Generally speaking, if you suspect that you have a tumor, you should go to the hospital for tumor marker testing. So, what happens when tumor marker test results are high?

1. Does a high level of tumor markers necessarily mean cancer?

Tumor marker testing is one of the common cancer prevention screening methods. Many people panic when they see elevated values ​​of some markers in the examination report, thinking they have cancer. In fact, tumor markers are not as scary as imagined. Although tumor markers are often used to detect tumors, an increase in their values ​​is not necessarily caused by tumors. They can also occur in normal tissues or benign diseases, and there are individual differences. Various tumor markers can only be used as auxiliary diagnostic indicators. Before a clear pathological histological diagnosis, do not conclude that you have cancer just because a certain indicator is slightly elevated.

2. Factors that cause elevated tumor markers

1. Malignant tumors: For malignant tumors, the levels of tumor markers will generally increase significantly. For example, the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level in most patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma will be significantly elevated; the carbohydrate antigen CA19-9 level in patients with pancreatic cancer will also be elevated, etc.

2. Inflammation and chronic diseases: Hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc. can cause an increase in alpha-fetoprotein AFP; acute pancreatitis, cholecystitis, etc. can cause an increase in carbohydrate antigen CA19-9; pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, etc. may also cause an increase in carbohydrate antigen CA125;

3. Drug use: The use of biological agents such as thymosin and rabies vaccine may cause an increase in certain tumor markers.

4. Sample storage issues: Improper storage of blood samples can also lead to elevated levels of tumor markers. If there are problems with the container, anticoagulant, preservative solution and cold chain storage, the sample will not accurately reflect the actual situation of the tester, which may cause the value of tumor markers to increase.

5. Special circumstances: such as drinking, poor sleep, and taking supplements too frequently. For women, blood draws before and after pregnancy or menstruation will result in fluctuations due to individual physical differences.