CA 19-99

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  • January 29, 2010 at 4:20 pm #35139
    cherbourg
    Spectator

    Jennifer,

    I’m in the medical field and work as a cytologist in Pathology. Here is a great website that gives an overview of the clinical laboratory tests. It’s a very reputable site with accurate information and very user friendly.

    http://www.labtestsonline.org/

    Hope this can help.

    Hugs!

    Pam

    January 27, 2010 at 4:41 pm #35138
    marions
    Moderator

    Jennifer…I agree with Rick. The CA 19-9 markers, in addition to the readings of the scan, provide a measure of response to treatment. They should drop. And yes, many members on our board have shown high CA 19-9’s initially which then dropped with treatment. The physicians will watch the trend (up or down.) Good luck and please, stay in touch.
    Best wishes,
    Marion

    January 27, 2010 at 4:12 pm #35137
    rick-kamp
    Member

    Jennifer,

    I wouldn’t put too much stock in the CA 19-9. It can be a useful tool to monitor progress, but it isn’t always entirely accurate or giving a good picture of what is happening. Mine has been as high as 14,000 and it is thought that it was elevated that high because of an infection in the bile ducts. While it is still high, it has come down substantially since then!

    I hope that your MRI will go well and that your surgery will have done the job at removing the cancer. Hang in there!

    Rick

    January 27, 2010 at 3:06 pm #35136
    2reasons2fight
    Spectator

    Hi Marion – thank you for your reply. My concern was that I have already had my surgery and am starting chemo so I am concerned that the number is high. They are going to monitor and hopefully it will fall. I am having an MRI on Friday. Is this the norm??

    January 27, 2010 at 5:56 am #35135
    marions
    Moderator

    This is what I have been told: CA 19-9 tumor markers generally, are elevated in Cholangicoarcinoma patients. They are measured in your blood and may aid in the diagnoses of bile duct cancer. Other imaging studies such as CT scans, MRI

    January 27, 2010 at 3:45 am #3135
    2reasons2fight
    Spectator

    Hi everyone – I was just wondering if anyone had knowledge of what these tests mean?? Apparently mine were a little high but that could be a result of my whipple surgery which was done the end of December. I started my chemo today and they are just going to watch the numbers and are hoping they decrease. Has anyone had a similar situation? I appreciate any info out there. Thank you to everyone for your input.

    Jennifer

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