Tumor Markers

[frustratedrg]

This is just a thought. Im due for routine blood work next week.  Ive heard that tumor markers can be effected by many things, both benign and cancerous.  I was just wondering, as I had a biopsy a couple of months ago which left a rather large hematoma (which I still have although it decreased a little), is it possibe that a tumor marker can pick up on a disturbance in the breast such as a hematoma, and think it is a "real" tumor?  Does that make sense to anyone or am I being paranoid?

[frustratedrg]

I just got the results of my tumor markers and they did increase slightly.  My dr. does believe that as my breast is still swolen due to the recent biopsy,  there is a possibility that the markers may not be accurate.  Any further thoughts?

[PaulMD]

Hi.  Hematomas should not affect the accuracy and reliability of tumor markers.  However, you are correct in your statement about tumor markers being produced by both benign or malignant tumors.

For breast cancer, there is presently no standard recommendations regarding tumor markers (either CA 15-3 or CA 27.29) and it is up to the accepted practices of the specific institutions on how they would interpret or correlate the results of these tests.

Regards.