Cancer is a plague of the 21st century. A disease that no one is safe from. More and more human lives are taking this ailment. Fortunately, the disease is treatable in the early stages. Therefore, it is important to donate blood to CEA tumor markers in time, for example, with the help of which you can learn about the condition 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 healthy tissues and, if treatment is not started in a timely manner, they can affect the entire body.
Cancer develops in stages. The worst stage is the fourth, the appearance of metastases. Metastases are the transfer of the focus of the disease to all tissues. They take their origin from tumor cells and spread together 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 used chemotherapy, which slows the spread of formations.
Detection of the disease in the early stages allows treatment to be carried out with great success. Therefore, you should always be on the alert and in the event of alarming symptoms, contact the hospital. REA (tumor marker) helps to identify the disease in the first stages, the values - indicators - which play a decisive role in the diagnosis of cancer. Periodic medical examinations and tests will help not only protect against metastases, but also prevent the disease.
What are tumor markers?
Oncomarkers are protein substances secreted by cancer cells, and sometimes by healthy ones, that have begun to degenerate. Each person has tumor markers in the body, and if their number exceeds the norm, this is the first signal to 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 healthy person and a patient. In healthy people, this is caused by colds, in women - by pregnancy. Therefore, to determine the tumor, it is necessary not only to donate blood to CEA (tumor marker), but also to undergo further examination.
Each of the known tumor markers, quantitatively increasing in the body, warns of the occurrence of a tumor of a particular organ or tissue.
Cancer markers and cancers
So, tumor markers are the waste products of cancer cells. An increase in their numbers in the blood indicates a possible development of cancer.
So, elevated levels of the PSA tumor marker may indicate prostate cancer. It is localized in the ducts of the prostate gland, rarely in the urethral canals. To confirm the diagnosis, a prostate biopsy is performed - taking organ tissues for a detailed study. After treatment, the level of PSA 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 - tumor markers, an increased amount of which indicates breast cancer. In the first stages, the tumor marker level slightly increases in the blood. But during the progression of the disease increases to 75%. An increase in the level of tumor markers may 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.
CEA - an increased amount of this tumor marker is observed in malignant tumors of the stomach, uterus, lungs, colon and rectum, prostate, breast and other organs. In a healthy person, CEA is practically not produced in the body. Even a small amount of it can talk about some kind of disease. For example, about kidney failure or hepatitis.
TPA, 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 allow you to highlight the risk group of patients, as well as determine the source of cancer even before the onset of the disease.
CEA (tumor marker) - normal
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 healthy adults, it is practically absent in the body. Therefore, one should be wary of the results of analyzes in which CEA is detected. This agent is very sensitive to many formations.
Normal indicators of tumor markers:
- PSA - <4 ng / ml. Indicators over 4 are diseases of the prostate, including cancer.
- AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) - 0-10 ME / ml. An increase in the number 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 embryo cancer.
- CA 125 - 0-35 U / ml - normal. Levels above 35 units indicate cancer of the ovaries, breast, uterus, and intestines.
- CEA - the norm for non-smokers is <2.5 ng / ml, <5 ng / ml - for smokers.
Time to sound the alarm
Not always an increased level of tumor markers may indicate a malignant tumor. This is often the case, but sometimes the level of CEA exceeds the norm for benign formations. The main difference between these two tumors is that the former develop without a membrane, as a result of which they can penetrate into all organs, and the latter in a special membrane, which is easily removed together with the tumor. The indicators of tumor markers exceed the permissible norms with a weakened body or a reduced immunity.
When CEA (tumor marker) is increased, you need to pay attention to the symptoms and general health. It should also be remembered that not all tumor markers are susceptible to cancer in the early stages. In no case should you postpone a visit to a specialist. After all, for a patient every day can become fatal.
The exact level of tumor markers in the blood allows us to determine not only the stage of the disease, but also to 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 a change in the level of these substances, we can talk about improving or worsening the condition of the body.
CEA analysis
The analysis allows us to determine the dynamics of the development of tumors, in particular - the spread of metastases in the tissue before they appear. And this means that by choosing the right therapy, you can completely recover from this ailment.
CEA analyzes are performed in the morning on an empty stomach. After the last meal, at least 12 hours should pass. The study material is venous blood, in rare cases, urine. A week or two before the analysis, you must cancel or stop taking all medications. It is also required to minimize physical activity. The day before 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 can affect the test results.
An analysis of CEA tumor markers is prescribed by the attending physician or other specialist. The results can be found the next day. Blood tests for tumor markers are paid.
How to recognize cancer in the first stage?
Cancer cells can infect absolutely any organ or tissue. Of course, each type of neoplasm has its own symptoms, but there are general signs that can be used to determine the disease. In addition to taking a blood test for CEA (tumor marker), you need to pay attention to the following changes in the body:
- A tumor that is clearly visible or can be felt.
- Cough, shortness of breath.
- Fever.
- Fatigue.
- Loss of appetite.
- Night sweats.
- The sharp appearance of a large number of moles.
- Frequent bleeding of an unclear nature.
- Disruption to the digestive tract.
- Sudden and unreasonable 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 full examination to establish a diagnosis. Remember, cancer in the first stages can be cured!
Causes of cancer
In most cases, human health depends on himself. Unhealthy lifestyles, addictions, harmful working conditions often cause serious illnesses, including cancer.
There are three external factors that directly affect the human body and as a result cause tumors of a different nature:
- Physical (radiation, ultraviolet radiation).
- Chemical (use of carcinogens - drugs, nicotine, alcohol).
- Biological (viruses and complications after them).
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 organs, thereby causing cell changes in them. As a result of cell degeneration, tumors form. The doctor confirms his research with an example of many patients who experienced terrible stress on the eve of the disease.
Cancer therapy
Cancer is not a sentence. Having discovered the disease in the early stages, one can still hope for complete healing. It is more difficult to treat cancer in the later stages.
In cancer therapy, an important role is played, in particular, by CEA (tumor markers), by the amount of which it is possible to 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 treatment for the disease is surgery. They also resort to chemo- and radiation therapy. As an additional method, hormone therapy is used.
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 that slow down, and sometimes completely stop, the spread of metastases. Often, healthy cells also suffer during treatment. Chemotherapy is used in the form of tablets, injections, intravenous injections, droppers, tablets and ointments. It is carried out in cycles - a week in two or three.
Radiation therapy - irradiation of affected areas. This method, like the previous one, is able to completely kill the tumor. Conducted by courses - from three to eight weeks.
Hormone therapy - taking hormonal and anti-hormonal drugs. Use the method as an additional in the treatment of cancer of the reproductive system. Assign it before or after surgery.
A few words in conclusion
A terrible disease that affects more and more people every day is curable if therapy is started on time. Most of the population ignores the symptoms of body ailments. And when they go to the doctor, it is already too late. Cancer is a disease that does not wait a day.
You can protect yourself from this ailment. 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 (tumor marker), the readings of which give an extensive picture of the state of many organs.