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Cancer count What is this ?

 
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Sasha
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Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 49
PostPosted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 3:39 pm    Post subject: Cancer count Reply with quote
Does anybody know what the range of numbers are for cancer counts?

Sasha
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brainman
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Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3930
Location: Tennessee
PostPosted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:45 pm    Post subject: Re: Cancer count Reply with quote
I have never heard the term "cancer count", Sasha. Maybe someone else has.
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Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
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Sasha
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Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 49
PostPosted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:24 pm    Post subject: re Reply with quote
I think it is something to do with the white blood cells

Sasha
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helensgirl
Senior User


Joined: 21 Dec 2007
Posts: 125
Location: north carolina
PostPosted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:32 am    Post subject: Re: Cancer count Reply with quote
Sasha,
I know that they count red blood cells and white blood cells when they do the blood tests, but as for "cancer counts"...well...I think that's what you are talking about. Take care, Kim
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Helen, my wonderful mom, diagnosed May, 07
fought-stage 4 NSCLC, (adenocarcinoma)
earned her place in Heaven, Dec. 14th, 07
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pbj11
Site Admin


Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 1126
PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:58 pm    Post subject: Re: Cancer count Reply with quote
Sasha,

Are you talking about the CEA blood test for tumor markers?

PBJ
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Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
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Sasha
Regular


Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 49
PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:31 pm    Post subject: re Reply with quote
Im not sure, they had just told them that the cancer count had doubled, then the next time it went down 3 points.
Sasha
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pbj11
Site Admin


Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 1126
PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:26 pm    Post subject: Re: Cancer count Reply with quote
Below is a range I found and an explanation of the CEA test:

CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) a blood test measuring the presence of an antigen in malignancies arising in entodermal (embryonic) or gastrointestinal tissue. Persistent elevated levels indicate residual or recurrent metastatic carcinoma. CEA assay is nonspecific for identifying a primary site, but it does indicate the presence of malignancy. Smokers may have an elevated CEA without malignant disease; smoking may affect accuracy of CEA results. Normal range: < 2.5 ng/ml. Normal range may vary somewhat depending on the brand of assay used. Levels > 10 ng/ml suggest extensive disease and levels > 20 ng/ml suggest metastatic disease.

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Sasha,

This is a generic test that is only one very small component in assessing cancer growth or recession. Most oncologists do not depend heavily on these tests because they aren't totally reliable and can be all over the place. My husband had a very heavy tumor burden at Stage IV diagnosis and he was tested just over 5.0. The best way to assess treatment success is through CT scans and the gold standard is a PET scan, which really tells you what the tumor activity level is without questions. Problem is most insurance companies balk at giving repeated PET scans as they are expensive, so most doctors utilize CT scans more regularly.

Best wishes,
PBJ
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Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
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Sasha
Regular


Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 49
PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:34 pm    Post subject: re Reply with quote
They dont do a ct scan until his next chemo, but they do these each time, I dont no if it is the same test or not but he was at a 9 the first time, 17 the second, and now is at 14. Sounds like you could be right about the type of test though, thank you.
Sasha
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pbj11
Site Admin


Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 1126
PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:45 pm    Post subject: Re: Cancer count Reply with quote
No problem Sasha. I've seen people with 200+, so you can see these tests are not the be all, end all. Glad to hear the scans are an ongoing part of the treatment.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
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Sasha
Regular


Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 49
PostPosted: Thu May 01, 2008 9:26 am    Post subject: re Reply with quote
My mom said that is the test.
Sasha
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