Please I need some information on numbers the CA19-9

rankind
rankind Member Posts: 36
edited March 2014 in Caregivers #1
My brother has been told that the Chemo is not working and that his CA19-9 number have gone from 680 to 9000 in a matter of a month. All treatment has been stopped and hospice has been called in. Does anyone understand what these numbers mean.

Comments

  • Barbara53
    Barbara53 Member Posts: 652
    #2
    sort of
    Ca stands for cancer antigen, and it's a protein type molecule given off by cancer cells that are healthy and growing. A higher CA number means more cancer cells are flourishing. Not all cancers have CA markers, but apparently your brother's does.

    Hope you are growing stronger in these tough times. Now the thing to do is reassure your bro that he won't be abandoned, and that everything that can be done to limit his suffering will be done.
  • rankind
    rankind Member Posts: 36
    #3
    Barbara53 said:

    sort of
    Ca stands for cancer antigen, and it's a protein type molecule given off by cancer cells that are healthy and growing. A higher CA number means more cancer cells are flourishing. Not all cancers have CA markers, but apparently your brother's does.

    Hope you are growing stronger in these tough times. Now the thing to do is reassure your bro that he won't be abandoned, and that everything that can be done to limit his suffering will be done.

    thank you
    Yes my brother has Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer and I guess that I was confused because I have read about mumber up in the 100s of thousand but I guess numbers are different for different cancers.

    Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions
  • jenene
    jenene Member Posts: 40
    #4
    My husband's CA-19 count
    My husband's CA-19 count started at 54,000 and is currently around 22,000. He is in end stage stomach cancer. Normal counts range from 0-64. Chemo did not work for us and now we are trying a different type of chemo. I have been told we only have about 3 months left. I know exactly how you feel.
  • HeartofSoul
    HeartofSoul Member Posts: 729 Member
    #5
    jenene said:

    My husband's CA-19 count
    My husband's CA-19 count started at 54,000 and is currently around 22,000. He is in end stage stomach cancer. Normal counts range from 0-64. Chemo did not work for us and now we are trying a different type of chemo. I have been told we only have about 3 months left. I know exactly how you feel.

    Jenene, we havent seen you
    Jenene, we havent seen you in chat recently and wanted to know how you and spouse and daughter were doing. Were here for you

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