CA 19.9 - Pancreatic Cancer Marker
This test measures the amount of a protein called CA 19-9 (cancer antigen 19-9) in the blood. CA 19-9 is a type of tumor marker. Healthy people can have small amounts of CA 19-9 in their blood. High levels of CA 19-9 are often a sign of pancreatic cancer. But high levels of CA 19-9 can mean different things, the test is not used by itself to screen for or diagnose cancer. It can help monitor the progress of your cancer and the effectiveness of cancer treatment.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer
- Abdominal pain that radiates to your back
- Loss of appetite
- Blood clots
- Itchy skin
- Fatigue
- Dark-colored urine
- Jaundice
- Light-colored stools
Risk factors of pancreatic cancer
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Pancreatitis
- Family history
- Obesity
- Older age, as most people are diagnosed after age 65
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The normal ranges:Â < 32 U/ml
*Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different labs. Some labs use different measurements or may test different specimens. Talk to your provider about your test results.
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