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A blood test for tumor markers

Any disease cancer type develops from the cells that are under a certain influence began to be reborn in atypical. Despite the fact that initially, all tumors come from normal cells, they have their own rules of development.

First it is noted that the tumor more actively is in the process of metabolism, respectively, in the body of the tumor cells divide much faster. Tumor cells are able to exert a certain negative influence on the human body, plus they secrete their products of metabolism.

Products of metabolism, are proteins that are different from those of the protein compounds that produces a healthy body. They are almost similar, but are released into the body in much more quantitative terms. It is the allocation of these atypical protein compounds called tumor markers, which is analyzed to identify cancer.

The types of tumor markers

If the analysis of tumor markers defined in the patient's blood, it speaks with almost 100% fidelity that the patient has cancer.

Important! A blood test for tumor markers allows you to define all locations of cancer, therefore accurate determination will need to do more specific research.

Below we present a list of major tumor markers, the definition of which can be carried out practically in every clinic with modern equipment:

  • CA 15-3 (Cancer Antigen 15-3). This protein in high doses is excreted in the body of the patient with the appearance of cancerous tumors in the breast.
  • CA — 125. Protein compound that indicates ovarian cancer.
  • CA 19-9. The tumor marker, which stands out in case of proliferation of tumor of the pancreas.
  • PSA is a cancer marker that can indicate a tumor in the prostate gland.
  • AFP (alpha-fetoprotein). The increase of this tumor marker with a high probability pointing to cancer of the liver.
  • HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). We indicated that this marker can indicate a pregnancy, but the second, its value may indicate bladder cancer.

If during the analysis for tumor markers in the patient's blood discovered markers AFP and HCG, it may directly identify the tumor malignancy in the testes.

In addition, the marker HCG is not only found in the blood in women but also in men, and in this case it is only negative news.

  • CEA (cancer-embryonic antigen). In the presence of this tumor marker can be assumed from several types of cancer: lung, rectum, bladder and stomach. Accordingly, the tumor marker is a kind of indication for furtherresearch.
  • Of NSE (NSE, Neuron-specific enolase, neuro-specific specific enolase). This protein connection could indicate

    However, this is not a 100% positive result, in some cases, the increase of a certain protein compounds may not point to cancer, and to change some of the organs that has no relationship to cancer.

    First, the increase in tumor markers in the blood may indicate the appearance of benign tumors or cystic tumors.

    Important! In a large number of tumor marker may be present in infectious disease, up to the banal SARS.

    Therefore, analysis for tumor markers is not the only test that can with 100% accuracy to give a diagnosis. The only thing that needs to be done, is when you receive a positive analysis on the increase in the number of tumor markers have other studies that either confirm or refute the diagnosis of cancer.