Hangzhou, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Feb. 4 is World Cancer Day, and one of the blood tests in hospitals is a "tumor marker". If the tumor marker index is normal, can cancer be ruled out? Experts said that tumor markers in clinical practice are only a monitoring indicator, which does not mean that they are equated with tumors.
It is understood that the location and type of tumor corresponding to different tumor markers are different. For example, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is associated with gastrointestinal tumors and lung adenocarcinoma and other malignant tumors, carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is associated with ** tumors, carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199) is associated with biliary tract or pancreatic tumors, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is associated with liver cancer, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is associated with prostate cancer.
However, this does not mean that an elevated tumor marker corresponds to the development of the corresponding tumor. Chen Jiaqi, deputy chief physician of the Department of Medical Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, said.
According to experts, there are many influencing factors for the elevation of tumor markers, and most benign diseases and even physiological conditions will cause elevated tumor markers.
Chen Jiaqi explained that the elevation of tumor markers needs to be paid attention to, but there is no need to panic, listen to the opinions of oncologists, and conduct follow-up observation or further diagnosis to clarify the cause and solve the problem.
On the other hand, a normal tumor marker does not mean that a tumor can be ruled out. Experts mentioned that many early-stage tumors do not cause an increase in tumor markers, and some tumors do not have corresponding tumor markers. For example, for malignant melanoma, the tumor markers commonly used in physical examination have no significance for screening.
In the minds of oncologists, more important than elevated tumor markers is standardized screening of tumors. Chen Jiaqi said that with the aging of society and the change of residents' living habits, the incidence of cancer has indeed gradually increased, so the early screening of tumors is very important, especially for people over 40 years old.
For example, for gastrointestinal cancer, it is recommended to start the first gastrointestinal endoscopy at the age of 40 to screen for gastrointestinal polyps or ulcers; For lung cancer, high-resolution CT screening of the chest every 2 to 3 years is also important; Gender-related female breast cancer and ** tumors, which need to be screened by annual breast ultrasound and **color ultrasound; Prostate cancer in men can be screened with prostate ultrasound. Improving this series of early cancer screening can maximize the early screening, early diagnosis and early treatment of cancer.
At the same time, lifestyle also has a high position in cancer screening. For example, lung cancer screening in smokers is even more important; People who have hepatitis B or drink heavily need to be more aggressive in screening for liver cancer.
Experts remind that tumor screening is not as simple as tumor markers, and developing good lifestyle habits and regular and perfect tumor screening is the best choice for health and cancer prevention. (ENDS).