A question about blood work

[kenneltech]

Not too long ago, I went to the doctor because they check me a lot for my hep C.  They said at that time that I had tracers in my blood that were positive for cancer.  They also said that it was linked to my liver (I don't know how they can tell that).  I had a biopsy done because I had spots on my liver, but they found no cancer and the "spots" seemed to go away.

Now, my question is, if I still have tracers in my blood for cancer, can't the cancer be somewhere else?  Should I be worried?  They seem to think since I didn't have liver cancer, everything is ok, but then, they are specialists and only deal with the liver.

Should I be going to some other doctor to get this checked out?  Cancer runs rampant in my family!

[kenneltech]

I'm not sure about what the tracers were, and I go to the Hepatology lab at a major University Hospital, but even so, it all seemed strange to me, too!  I just think that if you have tracers in your blood, they're IN THERE and THEY ARE TRACING CANCER!  I don't know, I know nothing about medicine, but I feel that something isn't right there.

Today, I'm going to the doctor (a different one) and I'm asking for a referral to an Oncologist, see, I can't get in to see one unless I have a referral, but I'm gonna tell her about all this and my concerns.

It's like, about a week ago, I had horrible burning in my chest (they checked for GERD, the obvious) found nothing.  I asked for a CAT scan of my lungs, and they did AN X-RAY!!!  They told me that if the x-ray showed nodules, then they'd do a CAT scan, and that's how you find lung cancer.

HA!  My mother and grandfather died of lung cancer, and I KNOW FOR A FACT that the ONLY way you can get a detection early enough so that it can actually be cured is with a CAT scan, by the time you get an x-ray and something shows up, you're a gonner!  But, of course, they're the doctors, and we know nothing!

Thank you for your reply, I copy these replies and take them with me when I see doctors because they don't take time with people anymore, or they just don't listen!

[Londres70]

My recommendation is to get a second opinion from an Oncologist.  You are at very high risk for Liver CA related to your Hepatitis C. The family history puts you at high risk too. "Spots went away?"  "Said you had cancer tracers linked with your liver?"  "Then said you didn't have Liver cancer?"  Were you seeing a Gastroenterologist?  Have you ever even seen an Oncologist?  Geez, no wonder you are confused and scared.  How long ago did all of this take place?

Yes, if you have tracers/makers, cancer could be somewhere else, possibly causing problems with the liver.  There are markers/tracers that are organ specific though.  Do you remember which makers/tracers they said you were positive for?  

PLEASE SEE SOMEONE ELSE.  The information you have provided doesn't make any sense to me and is very confusing.  You have not got any REAL answers from this physician.  

Keep us posted.

[banana_man3350]

those tracers mean some where in your body there is cancer the big deal is where...i am going on trip 4 on fighting cancer and this time we are looking for where it is the last 3 times we knew where it was...hang in there it will be ok...i am new here but talk when u need to