Cancer is the plague of the 21st century. A disease from which no one is immune. More and more human lives are claimed by this disease. Fortunately, in the early stages, the disease is treatable. Therefore, it is important to donate blood on time for CEA tumor markers, for example, with the help of which you can find out about the state of many organs.
Cancer and everything related to it
Cancer is a malignant tumor that develops as a result of cell degeneration. Tumors grow into he althy tissues and, if not treated in time, they can affect the entire body.
Cancer develops in stages. The most terrible stage is the fourth, the appearance of metastases. Metastasis is the transfer of the focus of the disease to all tissues. They originate from tumor cells and spread along with lymph or blood. This process is irreversible and can no longer be treated. In rare cases, when metastases have affected small areas of organs, it is possible to remove them surgically. More often, chemotherapy is used, which slows down the spread of formations.
Detection of the disease at an early stageallows for a successful treatment. Therefore, you should always be on the alert and, if alarming symptoms occur, go to the hospital. Very often, CEA (oncomarker) helps to identify the disease in the first stages, the values - indicators - of which play a decisive role in the diagnosis of cancer. Periodic medical examinations and tests will help not only protect yourself from metastases, but also prevent the disease.
What are tumor markers?
Tumor markers are protein substances secreted by cancer cells, and sometimes he althy ones, that have begun to regenerate. Each person has oncomarkers in the body, and if their number exceeds the norm, this is the first signal for action. In other words, you need to go through a complete diagnosis.
Medicine knows more than two hundred types of tumor markers, twenty of which are necessary for the diagnosis of cancer.
The level of tumor markers can increase in the blood of both a he althy person and a patient. In he althy people, this is caused by colds, in women - by pregnancy. Therefore, to determine the tumor, it is necessary not only to donate blood for CEA (tumor marker), but also to undergo further examination.
Each of the known tumor markers, increasing quantitatively in the body, warns of the occurrence of a tumor in a particular organ or tissue.
Tumor markers and cancers
So, tumor markers are the waste products of cancer cells. An increase in their number in the blood indicates a possible development of cancer.
So, an elevated level of the PSA tumor marker can indicate prostate cancer. It is localized in the ducts of the prostate gland, rarely in the urethral canals. To confirm the diagnosis, a biopsy of the prostate is performed - taking organ tissue for a detailed study. After therapy, the PSA level is reduced to zero. And if, on the contrary, it increases, a relapse of the disease is possible.
CA 15-3, CA 27, CA 29 are tumor markers, an increased number of which indicates breast cancer. In the first stages, the level of the tumor marker slightly increases in the blood. But during the progression of the disease increases to 75%. An increase in the level of these tumor markers can also indicate pregnancy.
CA 125 - Helps detect ovarian cancer. This marker is often used as a screening diagnostic method.
An increase in the level of CA 242, CA 19 indicates tumors of the pancreas, rectum and colon.
REA - an increased amount of this oncomarker is observed in malignant tumors of the stomach, uterus, lungs, colon and rectum, prostate, breast and other organs. In a he althy person, CEA is practically not produced in the body. Even a small amount of it can indicate some kind of disease. For example, kidney failure or hepatitis.
TRA, CYFRA 21-1 - indicate lung cancer.
NMP22 - bladder cancer.
Chromogranin A - tumors of the nervous and endocrine systems.
One way or another, tests for tumor markers make it possible to identify the risk group of patients, as well as to determine the source of cancer even beforemanifestations of the disease.
CEA (tumor marker) - norm
CEA is a cancer-embryonic agent. It is produced mainly in the tissues of the embryo, and after birth, the level of the marker decreases. In physically he althy adults, it is practically absent in the body. Therefore, one should be wary of the results of analyzes in which CEA was detected. This agent is very sensitive to many formations.
Normal tumor markers:
- PSA – < 4 ng/ml. Scores above 4 are prostate diseases, including cancer.
- AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) – 0–10 IU/ml. Increasing the amount is acceptable in pregnant women and newborns.
- hCG is a hormone secreted by the placenta during pregnancy. An increase in its number may indicate both maternal diseases and embryonic cancer.
- CA 125 - 0-35 U / ml - the norm. A level above 35 indicates cancer of the ovaries, breast, uterus, intestines.
- CEA - norm for non-smokers - < 2.5 ng / ml, < 5 ng / ml - for smokers.
Time to sound the alarm
Not always elevated levels of tumor markers can indicate a malignant tumor. Often this is true, but sometimes the level of CEA exceeds the norm in benign formations. The main difference between these two tumors is that the former develop without a shell, as a result of which they can penetrate into all organs, and the latter - in a special shell, which is easily removed along with the tumor. Also, the indicators of oncomarkers exceed the permissible norms in a weakened body.or reduced immunity.
When CEA (tumor marker) is high, you need to pay attention to symptoms and general he alth. It should also be remembered that not all tumor markers are sensitive to cancer in the early stages. In no case should you postpone a visit to a specialist. Indeed, for a patient, every day can be fatal.
The exact level of oncomarkers in the blood allows you to determine not only the stage of the disease, but also predict its onset. In this case, successful treatment and full recovery are guaranteed. It will be much worse if the tests and symptoms were ignored.
Tumor markers play an important role in the treatment of tumors. Observing the change in the level of these substances, we can talk about the improvement or deterioration of the body.
REA Analysis
The analysis allows you to determine the dynamics of tumor development, in particular, the spread of metastases in tissues before they appear. And this means that by choosing the right therapy, you can completely recover from this disease.
REA tests are done on an empty stomach in the morning. After the last meal, at least 12 hours must pass. The material for the study is venous blood, in rare cases, urine. A week or two before the analysis, it is necessary to cancel or stop taking all medications. It is also required to minimize physical activity. The day before the analysis, fatty and fried foods, as well as alcohol, are excluded from the diet. It is recommended to limit the number of cigarettes, as nicotine may interfere with the resultsanalyses.
An analysis of CEA tumor markers is prescribed by the attending physician or other specialist. The results are available the next day. Blood test for tumor markers is paid.
How to recognize cancer in the first stage?
Cancer cells can affect absolutely any organ or tissue. Of course, each type of neoplasm has its own symptoms, but there are also general signs by which the disease can be determined. In addition to taking a blood test for CEA (tumor marker), you need to pay attention to the following changes in the body:
- Tumor that can be clearly seen or felt.
- Cough, shortness of breath.
- Fever.
- Fatigue.
- Loss of appetite.
- Night sweats.
- The sudden appearance of a large number of moles.
- Frequent bleeding of unclear nature.
- Disturbances in the digestive tract.
- Sudden and unexplained weight loss.
- Aching pains.
- Long (more than a month) wound healing.
Having found such symptoms, it is urgent to consult a doctor who will prescribe a complete examination to establish a diagnosis. Remember, early stage cancer is curable!
Causes of cancer
In most cases, a person's he alth depends on himself. Unhe althy lifestyle, addictions, harmful working conditions often become the causes of serious diseases, including cancer.
There are three external factors that directly affect the human body and as a result cause tumors of variouscharacter:
- Physical (radiation, ultraviolet radiation).
- Chemical (use of carcinogenic substances - drugs, nicotine, alcohol).
- Biological (viruses and their complications).
Stress plays an important role in the formation of tumors, says American doctor Hamer. Under the influence of negative emotions, the brain sends negative information to the organs, thereby causing cell changes in them. As a result of the degeneration of cells, tumors are formed. The doctor confirms his research with the example of many patients who experienced terrible stress on the eve of the disease.
Cancer Therapy
Cancer is not yet a death sentence. By detecting the disease in the early stages, one can still hope for a complete cure. More difficult to treat advanced cancer.
In cancer therapy, CEA (tumor markers), in particular, play an important role, by the amount of which one can determine how well a certain method works. For a successful recovery, the first thing to do is to contact a specialist who will prescribe the correct diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, traditional medicine and healers are powerless in this area.
The main method of treating the disease is surgery. They also resort to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Hormone therapy is used as an additional method.
The most effective way that does not have strong side effects is surgery, removal of affected areas or tissues. This method is not used only for metastases.
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with chemicals,which slow down, and sometimes completely stop the spread of metastases. Often he althy cells are also affected during treatment. Chemotherapy is used in the form of tablets, injections, intravenous injections, droppers, tablets and ointments. It is carried out in cycles - in two or three weeks.
Radiation therapy - irradiation of the affected areas. This method, like the previous one, is able to completely kill the tumor. Conducted in courses - from three to eight weeks.
Hormonotherapy - taking hormonal and antihormonal drugs. The method is used as an additional method in the treatment of cancer of the reproductive system. Assign it before or after the operation.
A few words in conclusion
A terrible disease that affects more and more people every day can be cured if therapy is started in time. Most of the population ignores the symptoms of body ailments. And when they turn to the doctor, it is already too late. Cancer is a disease that does not wait a day.
You can protect yourself from this disease. Sports walks, proper nutrition and periodic (once a year) medical examinations will save not only from cancer, but also from other ailments. It is also important to take a blood test, in particular, for CEA (oncomarker), the readings of which give an extensive picture of the state of many organs.
