Where is Pancreatic Cancer here? Astronomical CA19.9 levels...

Amicus
Amicus Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My father is a 16-month pancreatic cancer survivor. Originally, when he was diagnosed, he had a very strange CA19.9 level of 180,000U/mL. Luckily, when he started chemo, this number started to go down and he actually reached 10 percent of the original number (1,500) before it turned around. What is strange is that the normal range for the CA19.9 has always been around 0-35U/mL and he has never been below 1,500. His blood work two weeks ago showed 95,000.

Some of the professionals (truly great people) dealing with my father have guessed that the actual CA19.9 value is not as important as the trend it takes on. But, NOONE has ever been able to definitely answer this question of why it is so high. However, I have read several articles suggesting that there are many other factors that affect the CA19.9 levels (i.e. inflammation).

I guess, therefore, my question is: has anyone ever heard of such astronomical figures of CA19.9? It has always bothered us.

Secondly, two weeks after a reading of 95,000U/mL, his blood work had been sent to an entirely new company (which apparently uses different machines). The first and newest reading from them is 270,000U/mL (with a range of 0-35U/mL). My father’s oncologist said “not to worry” because it is an entirely different reading and they should only use it as a base number. Can readings between two different laboratories be that different??? (three times that number in a matter of two weeks is hard to believe). Not surprisingly, the laboratories refuse to answer even general questions about their machines and such results.

Thank you for any help or input in advance.

Comments

  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #2
    I tried to delete my
    I tried to delete my comments here, but the post wouldn't go away completely, just show up blank- please scroll down to next reply below.

    Lisa
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #3
    there isn't a pancreatic site here- go to Cancer Compass
    Hi,

    I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through. I wish I had some good advice, but I don't know about pancreatic cancer.
    You're right- there isn't a pancreatic cancer site under the message board here. I just checked and was really surprised. Let me direct you to another cancer website's discussion board. Type in "Cancer Compass" for your search and check out the message board there. I double checked and pancreatic cancer definitely does have a site there & it seems to be fairly active.

    Best wishes,
    Lisa

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