Aa
Do I have pancreatic cancer?
Hi, I had my ca 19-9 test done and it shows 42 but according to ultrasound my pancreas are normal. Also I have low iron and hemoglobin count. My thyroid is at 5.
My CA19-9 bounces around 30 to 150, up and down. I do have to watch for cholangiocarcinoma, due to a chronic biliary disease. But CA19-9 is a very poor marker. Imaging is best used in its place. Then biopsies. CA19-9 can then be used as a marker for therapy effectiveness ... but not as a primary diagnostic tool.
Hi radz.
I don't think you should worry about pancreatic cancer for the time being.
Your slightly elevated CA 19-9 finding (you should post units of measure
and lab range) is linked to many cancerous and non-cancerous conditions.
The Society of American Oncologists discourages doctors from using this test, because of too many false positives and false negatives.
Your immediate attention is required for your low iron and low hemoglobin which theoretically should lead to low thyroid function.
Your thyroid 5 is meaningless to us (i'm guessing it is for TSH levels)
as there are T3, T4, TSH, anti-TPO,
anti-Tg tests and each lab has it's own ref values.
You should post all the details you have.
Now, if your test result of 5 is indeed for TSH, tell your doctor immediately!
that you don't want to be a victim of the range wars!
The TSH range (TSH is for some strange reason the main thyroid test doctors rely on) has been set at 0.3-3, changed to 0.5-5 and many doctors will not treat patients within the latter range, considering this normal, while ignoring more important and real facts, like LOW iron, LOW hemoglobin and relevant clinical symptoms!
To be absolutely sure, you should ask also for free T3, free T4 and reverse T3.
Best wishes,
Niko
I don't think you should worry about pancreatic cancer for the time being.
Your slightly elevated CA 19-9 finding (you should post units of measure
and lab range) is linked to many cancerous and non-cancerous conditions.
The Society of American Oncologists discourages doctors from using this test, because of too many false positives and false negatives.
Your immediate attention is required for your low iron and low hemoglobin which theoretically should lead to low thyroid function.
Your thyroid 5 is meaningless to us (i'm guessing it is for TSH levels)
as there are T3, T4, TSH, anti-TPO,
anti-Tg tests and each lab has it's own ref values.
You should post all the details you have.
Now, if your test result of 5 is indeed for TSH, tell your doctor immediately!
that you don't want to be a victim of the range wars!
The TSH range (TSH is for some strange reason the main thyroid test doctors rely on) has been set at 0.3-3, changed to 0.5-5 and many doctors will not treat patients within the latter range, considering this normal, while ignoring more important and real facts, like LOW iron, LOW hemoglobin and relevant clinical symptoms!
To be absolutely sure, you should ask also for free T3, free T4 and reverse T3.
Best wishes,
Niko
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Cancer Community
Here are 15 ways to help prevent lung cancer.
New cervical cancer screening guidelines change when and how women should be tested for the disease.
They got it all wrong: Why the PSA test is imperative for saving lives from prostate cancer
Everything you wanted to know about colonoscopy but were afraid to ask
A quick primer on the different ways breast cancer can be treated.
Get the facts about this disease that affects more than 240,000 men each year.
