CA 19.9 level of 38.1

[wabbit66]

My test showed a CA 19.9 level of 38.1.  My lipase levels have been in the mid 400's for several months.  The ultra sound showed just a "fatty " pancreas.  I have had mid-left back discomfort for months.  No pain. No jaundice.  Appetite seems ok.

What is my next step?   Doctor said come back to be retested in two months.  After checking the web, I realized I could be dead in two months (unlikely, but let's play this safe)

I live in Europe.  I hope you can give me advice.  Female, age 62, family history breast, ovarian & prostate cancer.  Renal insufficiency.  

Many thanks,

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  I agree with your course of action.  Even if you do not have symptoms, it might be best to have that check up and probably an abdominal CT as well.  But I doubt if any abnormalities will be found on CT.  I'm glad that you have found our forums useful.  Good luck.

[Ngor]

Hi.. I am very thankful for this website n the info provided. This is very useful n informative for me. Recently from my blood test report my reading on CA 19.9 is 46.6 units/ml. I was very scare and afraid and lonely till I found this website.

But I am considering to go for a through checkup on this n to ease my mind I am thinking of going for ultra sound or CT scan later.

Do hv any advise for me ?

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  The normal value for CA 19-9 is 0-37 units/ ml.  A value of 15.5 is well within the normal limit.  You do not need to have the test repeated.  It is not useful in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatitis.

[jo545]

sir,

my ca 19.9 test show result of 15.5 uiml. Is it normal,, i were found pancrettis when ct scan made on last year. That time i was having pain in stomach when take food. but from last six months no pain, i go to doctor and he told me to take ca 19.9 test and the result is 15.5 U/ml. pls advice me whether the range is normal or not

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  If your wife is still worried about recurrent pancreatic cancer in spite of the low CA 19-9 results, a negative endoscopic examination and CT scan, then she could consider having a PET scan (positron emission tomography) of the whole body done.  This imaging procedure is even more sensitive than CT scan in detecting very small aggregations of cancer cells.  If the PET scan is negative, it's highly unlikely for her to have cancer recurrence.  The PET scan however, is a rather expensive test, so you should think first before having it done.  

[Anis_Siddiqi]

Dear Dr. Fernando,

My wife was diagonosed Pancreatic Cancer in January 2006 and after initial investigation and ERCP twice, was operated for Whipple's in February 2006. She reovered remarkably and was given a clean chit by the surgeon who operate afetr some four months of monitoring. On a foll up, an oncologist erroneuosly diagonosed of recurrence of disease and wanted to start chemotherapy. After obtainng a few "second" opinions and after massively educating myself through the net, and taking route of some alternate medicnes, a CT scan and and agresive Endocopic examination resulted in categorical "No recurrence of disease at all".

Ever sinse, a constant monitoring of the patient's LFTs, Blood Chemistry, CA 19.9 have shown a remarkable sustained health but on and off attacks of unrelated nature such as asthma etc. Her CA 19.9 level has always come as <2.5.

I would like your opinion as recently my wife has shown fears as if the disease is recurring although her latest blood test sho no such indications.

What particular test you would suggest to re-ensure her confidence.

She is 52 years old of Asian origin.