Explore our helpful online forum resources at CancerCompass.com to research additional information and obtain feedback from patients about their experiences with diagnostic lab tests. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/cancer-diagnosis/lab-tests/1,0,124,96.htm Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I had a colostomy 2 years ago because of colon cancer. 4 months ago cancer was found in a lymph node in my groin. I just finished radiation.   The node has shrunk. I had a CEA test 2 days later.  I just found out today that my CEA count was 4  before I started radiation and now it is 15. Does this mean I have cancer somewhere else or was it too soon to have the test.  I have heard the radiation can continue to work for a few weeks after. I had a PET scan 2 months ago and my doctor said nothing new was visible. My doctor is on vacation for 2 weeks and I don't know who to ask about this. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,40412,0.htm wvgmama Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT   Dad was getting a series of 5 shots to raise his White Blood Count from 3.54.  The normal range is 4.3 - 10.8 x 109 cells per liter.  His blood was checked yesterday before the 5th shot and it was twice the amount above normal range at 20.41. The nurse asks the doctor if she should give the shot because it was at 20.4. The doctor said give it to him.  Dad felt bad and couldn't sleep, felt numb all night. I read when it gets over 18. it starts to become dangerous. Why would a doctor continue the shots?  I did read one article where elevated WBC can cause heart attack and strokes. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,40276,0.htm Yaziza Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT The reference range of red blood count is 4.00-5.10.  Mine is 3.74.  How can I increase it without medication. Thank you. Siegrun  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,39004,0.htm Siegrun Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT Newbie, thanks for responses to come:)I am a 7 year breast cancer survivor, age 47 at dx,  stage 1, Estrogen +, DCIS with lumpectomy and radiation, no chemo.  5 years of Tamoxifen  (and 5 years of hot flashes) 1 year off then put back on Tamoxifen 13 months ago because ca 27.29 value of 42.  13 months, Petscan, Bonescan, HRCT, and mammo and ultrasound later my ca 27.29 is 98.2 (last 3 months 92,102,98), my cea is 1.9 and d.dimer is 0.1.  I have lots of other crap wrong with me but am worried of liver or pancreas involvement as I already have an enlarged fatty liver due to diabetes and problems with pancreas. 1) any thoughts or info on elevated blood tests2) any other tests that may show more specifics besides Petscan?  I cannot do an MRI unless I am in a hospital. (have lung disease and severe claustraphobia need anathesiologist)Here's hoping someone can direct me http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,38817,0.htm LearnAboutIPF Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT I have been battling stage4 neuroendoctrine pancreatic cancer now for 2 years. I am involved in a clinical trial for about 1 1/2 years, every 4 weeks I go for routine blood work and every 3 months its blood work and a CT scan. My last visit was routine blood work and my pregnancy serum was very elevated. I AM NOT PREGNANT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If anyone out there knows anything about this and can give me any insite as to WHY its elevated for the first time in 1 1/2 yrs, please feel free to post. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,37450,0.htm dlm12101 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT Hello, I have a long suspection that the pathologist mis-interpreted my mom markers.  Today, after reading a series of articles and studies, it sorta confirm our suspection.  Following are the readings and their initial conclusion:1. TTF1 and Cytokeratin-7 are positive but Cytokeratin-20 is negative.2. Pan-cytokeratin is positive with less Golgi pattern3.  Chromogranin and Synaptophysin are positive.They considered as Small Cell Carcinoma LC ( even tho they said some of those cells are larger than typical )Since my brother is a bioscientist we got the feeling they read all wrong. She should b a Non Small Cell LC.   Any Advise on this reading would be appreciated as we are waiting till working day - Tuesday to request for extra lab work...  I am so anxious.Victoria PS: I hope everyone (caregivers and patients should ask for those concrete test and compare and study prior let the doctors dissect you and toxicate you with the wrong Chemo drugs).   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,36472,0.htm CancerStrike2 Sun, 24 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT Hi all!  I'm new here because I've been undergoing some tests.  I have a question regarding a Immunofixation, urine test they did on me due to high protein.  It's still preliminary, but showing "Faint IGG monoclonal band, present in the ALPHA-2 region."  Can anyone tell me what that is?  My blood protein seems to be rising weekly.  It's up to 9.1.  My WBC is up to 12.1, and Platelets to 480,000. My electrophoreseis blood protein was normal. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,35298,0.htm blugheyedgal Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT Hi all, I recently have been undergoing some tests.  My blood protein started out being 8.8 and went up to 9.1 in a week.  My WBC went from 11.8 to 12.1, my PPlatelets went from 439,000 to 480,000. They also did a urine electropheresis or something of that sort, and there is a preliminary saying something about, "faint IGG monocolnal band, alpha 2 region." Does anyone know what all of this means?  Please help!!!  I'm freaking out here....should I be? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,35267,0.htm blugheyedgal Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT I had Stage II breast cancer 8 years ago.  I go for my checkups twice a year, more for my peace of mind than anything else.  Last summer I had a colonoscopy and the doctor removed two polyps.  The next month I went for my regular bi-annual checkup and my CEA was around 9; it had jumped from around 2.  She repeated the test for a couple of months and it didn't go down.  My oncologist then ordered a PET scan and it was fine.  By that time it had dropped to 4.7.   At my checkup in Jan it had gone back up to 6.  She repeated the PET scan and again it showed nothing.  My question is, could the colonoscopy have missed something?  Do all tumors show up on a PET scan?  Would CEA detect something before it could be read on a PET scan?  I know it is probably useless worrying, but as you know, you never get over the worry of cancer returning... http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,35013,0.htm Leslie77 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT I have had several moles removed all labeled displastic with mile atypia, I know these are not considered cancer only to have abnormal cells in them.  I recently had 2 removed and the pathology report was referred to the May clinic for a 2nd evaluation.  This has never been done before but my dr office staff states that this is precautionary and it is good to get a 2nd opinion.  I am still waiting on the results but am a little worried that maybe there is a reason they sent it for a 2nd evaluation.  Should I be overly worried? ThanksMelissa http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,34198,0.htm MelissaLV Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT Does anyone know what rising MCV and MCH levels would mean?  Mine are both above the normal range. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,33655,0.htm peggychewy Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT Hey folks, my chemo brain is so foggy right now I cannot retain anything my doc says. I have a question that hopefully someone can answer as if I am a 5 year old....ok 4 would be better :-)Before the colon resection my CEA was 4.7. After 3 chemo treatments the CEA was 5.1. I have had 6 chemo treatments and the last CAT scan did not find any tumors. However my CEA was 4.8. To my way of thinking if I no longer have any tumors my CEA should be in the normal range. Am I not thinking straight on this?Thank you for taking the time to respond and hopefully explain my question.                            Patsy http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,31068,0.htm MaEarth Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi My name is Kim, I am 44.  I have just had a CT; urine and blood work done.  Nothing outstanding in the lab work, but in the CT I had multiple hypodensities on both kidneys and on my liver.  The pancreas, spleen, intestine, appendix, and colon appeared within normal range.  I was told they are probably cysys.  I was told that the pain I was having was my stomach cramping and was perscribed Levsin.  I was also told I have a nodule on my right lung that is 3.3 mm big...and that I need to have follow-up to see if this is stable.I was not given any other explanation, nor any insight as to "Why?" do these hypodesities happen, and "What?" should be done to rid one's self of these.I was told that I would not be admitted to the hospital right then, and no surgery would be performed that night.  And that was the end of my 'consultation'.I was told to make a follow-up appointment about the lung thing, only!  Does that seem right?  No follow-up about the hypodensities?  I am really new to this thing so any wise words about now could really make my day. Thanks for the understanding.bye for now,Kim Loignon http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,30706,0.htm foreverhisown Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT hi can anyone shed some light on what is possibly going on.in may of this year i developed a very nasty infection where my wisdom tooth was comming through(it has been comming for many years, up untill may had no problems with it), i had some dental work done without the tooth havingto be removed, iv since had another 5 infections with antibiotics- it now seems to be sorted out, how ever 3 weeks ago i came down with what i thought was a flu bug, with nasty night sweats, again a something that iv had for a while, but was no problem untill the bug, i went to the docs, and told her, she found a lymph node under my ear that has been enlarged for more years than i care to remember, she ordered blood tests and a chest xray, blood results were- red and white cells ok. liver and kidney function ok. hormones fine. but she said she found protein in my blood, and my inflammatry markers where raised, she then asked for a urine test for a bence jones protein. so would this be the protein in my blood? or is that caused by the repeated infections? the cold is much better, but i now have slight back ache in the small of my back, slightly like period pain and my right side of lower back hurts a bit, in the kidney area.im sorry this is so long, but im very confused, and cross with myself for feeling so lazy, and just want to feel better. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,29283,0.htm littleone1976 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am so upset!  I was suppose to have a biopsy of a lump in my neck yesterday that I had told the ENT was a lymph node, but he insisted it was a nodule on my thyroid.  I figure he was the doc so did not argue.  Well when I was getting the ultra sound for the guided needle biopsy the tech said my thyroid was fine and thet it was a swollen lymph node and that several others were swollen in the area as well.  She tried to call the doctor and was unable to reach him.  I was sent home with the tech shrugging his shoulders as what to do.  He said as far as he knew the doc doesn't do biopsies on lymph nodes.  I called my doctors office when I got home and was told by the receptionist that she would have someone call me.  No one has called yet.  I have several nodules(???) in my right lung as seen by CAT scan.  I have several nodules near my clavicle and several on my neck all on the right side.  I do not have severe pain, but an aching on the right side for sometime now.  I have been to 3 doctors and all  just keep refering me to someone else.  What is wrong with the medical proffession.  Why can I not get anywhere with anyone.  I am starting to feel like all doctors are a bunch of clowns that don't know what they are doing.  I knew it was a lymph node, but how in the heck do you argue with a doctor.  I am at the point of giving up.  Are there no more good doctors out there??? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,29123,0.htm outofhere Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am wondering if anyone here was positive for the D-dimer test before their tumors (or nodules) were found?  I think there might be a correlation between positive D-Dimer tests and growing tumors or nodules.  Would really like to know if there are any people here with that experience. Usually D-Dimer test is used when a blood clot is suspected. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,28908,0.htm outofhere Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT What could a WBC 11.8, MCV 77.0, RDW 14.8 Absolute Lymphocytes 5.3 results indicate? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,28756,0.htm HappyGirl Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT What could a RBC 5.15, MCV 78, MCH 25.6, RDW 16.2, Amylase, Serum 170 and Lipase, Serum 266 results indicate? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,28754,0.htm HappyGirl Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT What could a Lipase, Serum result of 63 indicate? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,28753,0.htm HappyGirl Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT What could a Triglycerides 202, Cholesterol, Total 220, WBC 12.6, RBC 5.33, MCV 76.8, MCH 25.5, RDW 15.2, Absolute Lymphocytes 4234 and TSH, 3rd Generation results indicate? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,28752,0.htm HappyGirl Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT What could a MCV 77.0, MCH 25.7 and RDW 16.4 result indicate? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,28750,0.htm HappyGirl Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT What could a WBC 11.1, MCV 79.7, MCH 25.5 and Absolute Lymphocytes 4407 indicate ? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,28748,0.htm HappyGirl Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi, Does anyone know if a CEA level of 1.7 is good or bad? My Mom found out by accident that she has a few somach ulcers surrounded by mostly diffuse signet cell adenocarcinoma that has invaded the linea propria (which , I understand, is the 2nd of 5 layers of the stomach).Her CAT scan was done and hopefully we will find out what results are tomorrow. The waiting is driving me crazy and any info. will be so helpful. Thanks. Ellen http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25771,0.htm eljoy18 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi, does anyone know what the AE-1/AE-3 is? My Mom's biopsy of her stomach ulcer with adenocarcinoma had a 3+ AE-1/AE-3, the CD66 was neg and the CEA(P) was 4+ of the biopsy of the antral ulcers. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25609,0.htm eljoy18 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT hello...my mother has low hemoglobin of 81...any advice on how to raise it? thanks http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23796,0.htm Trish28 Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT