During the physical examination, I believe that many friends have paid attention to one indicator: tumor markers. This name is easy to remind people of whether they have cancer, and it also makes many friends very anxious when they see it.
A blood sample for general tumor markers. The stock copyright picture, reprinting and using may cause copyright disputes
So what exactly are tumor markers? How to correctly interpret tumor markers? Let's talk about it together today~
Tumor markers
Special "signaling molecules" in the body
Tumor markers are some of the special "signaling molecules" in our body. These signaling molecules could be proteins, enzymes, hormones, or even certain gene fragments.
Abnormalities in their levels or structure in the body may indicate that something is wrong with our body, and in some cases, it is linked to cancer. Common tumor markers, such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), are often used to detect liver cancer, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is often used to detect prostate cancer.
The stock copyright picture, reprinting and using may cause copyright disputes
The application of tumor markers in practical clinical practice is also multifaceted. First, they play an important role in the adjuvant diagnosis of cancer; Second, they help doctors evaluate the effects of treatment, such as whether chemotherapy is working and whether the tumor is shrinking. Finally, tumor markers can also act as "police" in the follow-up of patients after treatment, monitoring whether the cancer has signs of recurrence.
However, it is important to note that tumor markers, while powerful, are not perfect. They sometimes emit "false positives" – false positives or false negatives. Therefore, doctors usually do not make a diagnosis based on the test results of tumor markers alone, but will combine imaging examinations, pathological examinations and other information to conduct a comprehensive evaluation.
Tumor markers
It doesn't have to be cancer
When you see an elevated tumor marker on your physical exam, you may chuckle and think, "Oh no, do I have cancer?" "Actually, you don't have to be so nervous. There are many reasons for elevated tumor markers, and it is not necessarily the cancer.
First, inflammation and infection can also cause temporary elevations in tumor markers, and even some normal conditions may be elevated. A common cold, chronic bronchitis, or even gingivitis can make these markers "jump high". For example, an elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) may indicate hepatitis rather than liver cancer.
For example, lifestyle habits can also affect the level of tumor markers. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels are generally higher in long-term smokers than in nonsmokers. People who drink too much alcohol also have elevated ferritin (SF). In premenopausal women, coffee drinking may lead to an increase in CA125.
There are also special conditions that can cause tumor markers to be elevated. For example, AFP may also be elevated during pregnancy and in the baby, and menstrual CA125 may also be elevated in some premenopausal women with age.
Ovarian cancer tumor markers. The stock copyright picture, reprinting and using may cause copyright disputes
Therefore, an elevated tumor marker is not the same as cancer, and the elevated tumor marker is just a signal sent by the body, and the correct response is very important.
Elevated tumor markers were found
What should I do?
First of all, when you see the tumor markers on the physical examination report elevated, don't be nervous and anxious, and don't blindly check and use drugs without authorization, especially some "miracle drugs" with the slogan of "reducing cancer risk".
If it is only a mild increase, you can adjust your own state, no smoking and alcohol, regular work and rest to avoid staying up late, and recheck as appropriate at an interval of 1~2 weeks.
If the results of the review have not changed much from the previous (small fluctuations up and down are allowed), you can continue to monitor, review regularly (every 2~6 months or so, and the follow-up can be gradually extended to annual review), and dynamically observe the changes.
If the re-examination is further significantly higher than before, or the results of subsequent re-examinations are progressively increased, or there is a significant increase in a single time, reaching several times the normal value, it is recommended to go to a specialist and arrange further examination according to the doctor's advice.
We need to know that tumor markers alone cannot establish a diagnosis of cancer, we should not scare ourselves, and maintaining a good mental state is a part of health that cannot be ignored. Excessive stress can affect the body's immune function, which can lead to fluctuations in tumor markers.
We must face the results of the physical examination rationally and better protect our own health.
bibliography
[1] Hanif H, Ali MJ, Susheela AT, et al. Update on the applications and limitations of alpha-fetoprotein for hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol. 2022; 28(2):216-229.
[2] Fukuda I, Yamakado M, Kiyose H. Influence of smoking on serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels in subjects who underwent multiphasic health testing and services. J Med Syst. 1998; 22(2):89-93.
[3] Whitfield JB, Zhu G, Heath AC, et al. Effects of alcohol consumption on indices of iron stores and of iron stores on alcohol intake markers. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2001 Jul; 25(7):1037-45.
[4] Balachandran A, Nayak SR. An Observational Study of Factors affecting CA125 Levels in Premenopausal Women. Adv Biomed Res. 2023;12:235.
[5] Grover S, Koh H, Weideman P, et al. The effect of the menstrual cycle on serum CA 125 levels: a population study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1992; 167(5):1379-81.
Planning and production
Author丨Jiang Yongyuan, Master of Internal Medicine, Third Military Medical University
Audit丨Pan Zhanhe, Chief Physician of the Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Master's Supervisor
Planning丨He Tong
Editor-in-charge丨Yinuo
Reviewer丨Xu Lai, Lin Lin