My dad who is in his early 80s recently had his blood tests done and had one abnormal reading - his CA Antigen 19-9 level was just over 50. Normal range is around 27. I've heard that high levels of CA 19-9 tends to be associated with cancer of the pancreas, bowel, gallbladder, bile duct, lung. Is this true?
He has had no symptoms apart from the right side of his abdomen gets distended.
He has been referred to further tests (CT scan) in a couple of weeks so not long to wait. But just wondering if anyone has had these high levels of this CA 19-9 Antigen and what this usually means?? Obviously and naturally, am very worried thinking the worst.
Enzyme high reading
Re: Enzyme high reading
I'm sorry to hear about your father's abnormal CA 19-9 result. I don't have any experience with high CA 19-9 values, but you might be able to get some information by reading a few of the NCCN Guidelines in the area if you haven't read them already:
Pancreatic Cancer
CA 19-9 marker
Pancreatic cancer cells make a protein called carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9). High CA 19-9 levels in blood are a tumor marker of pancreatic cancer; however, CA 19-9 can’t be used alone for diagnosis for two reasons:
High levels can be caused by other health conditions, including a blocked bile duct.
Some people with pancreatic cancer have normal levels of CA 19-9.
When caused by pancreatic cancer, high CA 19-9 levels often mean a high cancer stage.
Your care team will take CA 19-9 levels into account when planning treatment. This test may be repeated after treatment to check if levels are dropping or rising.
https://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/content/PDF/pancreatic-patient.pdf
Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancers
Tumor markers in the blood
Cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are examples of tumor markers that are occasionally made by tumors and can be detected in the blood.
These tests are only one piece of information your treatment team might consider. Not all cancers make these markers and not every person’s body makes these markers.
https://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/content/PDF/gallandbile-hp-patient.pdf
Liver Cancer
Tumor biomarker tests
Cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are examples of tumor markers that are occasionally made by tumors and can be detected in the blood. These tumor markers can help with diagnosis, monitoring response to treatment, and surveillance.
https://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/content/PDF/liver-hp-patient.pdf
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