What is CA19-9 tumour marker and blood test?
A CA 19-9 blood test measures the amount of a protein called CA 19-9 (cancer antigen 19-9) in the blood.
CA 19-9 is a type of biomarker/tumour marker. Tumour markers are substances made by cancer cells or by normal cells in response to cancer in the body. CA 19-9 is the most well-investigated and validated blood biomarker for the detection of symptomatic pancreatic cancer. CA 19-9 serum levels can help predict postoperative recurrence and provide critical information about prognosis, overall survival, and treatment response. (Sources: medlineplus.gov)
For your Ca19 9 blood test, your healthcare professional will use a small needle to take blood from a vein in your arm. You will feel a scratch while this is being done. The whole process shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
If you are undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, you may have several Ca19 9 blood tests over a period of time. The results will show how your Ca19 9 levels are changing. For instance:
- Increasing levels of Ca19 9 may indicate that your tumour is growing and/or treatment has not been successful.
- Decreasing levels of Ca19 9 may indicate that your tumour is shrinking and/or treatment has been successful.
- Levels that stay the same indicate that your cancer is stable.
- If your levels decrease after treatment but later increase, this may indicate that your cancer has returned or grown.
Whatever your results, you will need to discuss your Ca19 9 blood test with your doctors and other healthcare providers. You may need additional tests to understand what’s going on.