natelaugh wrote:rp1954 wrote: ... CA199, LDH, with hsCRP and ESR, GGT, 25 hydroxy vitamin D, cerruloplasin, ferritin, AFP, quantitative D-dimer, and maybe the markers CA125, CA72-4 and prolactin. TSH, fT3, HgbA1C, [PT/INR] are used for other common support, and potential interferences, like with CA199.
... which blood work applies to him? .. what should I say?
It's potentially easier to get a few extra tests done routinely by the doctors once you have the initial big battery done and they can spot reasons to add them.
I blew off insurance considerations the first year because I would have lost too much time and patience with their bs, instead of focusing on important tasks and results. However, insurance reimbursement the next year became a bloodsport again.
Potentially you might have a situation later where the best you can do insurance wise is to have the regular dr - insurance version of bloodwork at 2-3 month intervals, and a separate test, midway in between, if you feel a need to watch closer. Then getting the same lab is important.
Not sure if the oncologist will do it,...
Yes, we found it cheaper and more productive to just order blood tests ourselves by phone directly from the labs. The primary difference is insurance coverage is usually with a doctors scrip, but insurance paid for our own extra tests once, kind of burning up annual money. The other reason to have a doctor's order on the routine tests, is that some tests can have substantial brand differences between lab panels, like CEA. On the "extras" I wouldn't worry about it too much the lab variations. I sometimes use Life Extension in the US to pre-buy blood tests when they are
on sale, like now.