Although not all cancers have a ‘cure’ to them, early diagnosis frequently provides the best chance for treatment and recovery. By now, the market is flooded with numerous cancer screening test kits and modalities. But which of them are proven and relevant?
Tumor markers are substances found at higher than normal levels in the blood, urine, or body tissues of some people with cancer. Although cancer cells often produce tumor markers, other cells in the body may also produce them. Screening tests are a way of detecting cancer early, before there are any symptoms. For a screening tests to be helpful, it should have high sensitivity and specificity. Sensitivity refers to the test’s ability to identify people who have the disease. Specificity refers to the test’s ability to identify people who do not have the disease. Most tumor markers used for screening are not sensitive or specific enough to accurately screen for cancer. As such, the results have to be interpreted together with other tests. A negative test result does not necessarily mean that there is no cancer present. A positive test also does not necessarily mean that there is cancer since other conditions such as inflammation can also cause the tumor markers to be elevated.
You should check with your doctors before opting to have tumour marker test done to screen for cancers since the rate of false positive and false negative results may be fairly high.
Tumor markers are substances found at higher than normal levels in the blood, urine, or body tissues of some people with cancer. Although cancer cells often produce tumor markers, other cells in the body may also produce them. Screening tests are a way of detecting cancer early, before there are any symptoms. For a screening tests to be helpful, it should have high sensitivity and specificity. Sensitivity refers to the test’s ability to identify people who have the disease. Specificity refers to the test’s ability to identify people who do not have the disease. Most tumor markers used for screening are not sensitive or specific enough to accurately screen for cancer. As such, the results have to be interpreted together with other tests. A negative test result does not necessarily mean that there is no cancer present. A positive test also does not necessarily mean that there is cancer since other conditions such as inflammation can also cause the tumor markers to be elevated.
You should check with your doctors before opting to have tumour marker test done to screen for cancers since the rate of false positive and false negative results may be fairly high.