TEST ACRONYM

FULL TERMINOLOGY

N/A

DEFINITION

Tumor markers are substances that can be found in the body when cancer is present. They are often found in the blood or urine, but they can also be found in tumors and other tissue. They are products of the cancer cells themselves, or made by the body in response to cancer or other conditions. Most tumor markers are proteins.

WHEN TEST WOULD BE PERFORMED

You may have a tumor marker test before starting treatment, to get a baseline level. This score will be used to compare with later tumor marker tests.

INFORMATION VALUE

Your test levels will show how well your treatment is working. If your tumor marker levels decrease, that is a good sign that the cancer is responding to the therapy. An increased level indicates that the cancer is resisting the treatment, and a change may be required. After you have finished treatment, another tumor marker test may be done to check for any return of the cancer. During your follow-up visits after initial treatment, tumor marker tests may be done to monitor for recurrence.

CAUTION

Rising levels on your test results can be, but are not always worrisome. Although changes in tumor marker levels may give you cause for alarm, other non-cancerous diseases can cause test results to vary.