Cancer marker

Cancer is a horrible disease, many have died before its time because of it. I've treat several people with cancer and believe me its not a good experience. People with cancer in metastases stage often feel pain all the time, and sometime their sighs can distract you when doing Reiki treatments.

It is not uncommon,after hearing such lamentations, we want Reiki doing miracles, and make quick recovery inside our patients bodies. However, our spiritual progress rarely reach a stage where we can heal patients just by a single touch.

So, it is beneficial for Reiki practitioners who help cancer patients to combine with medical treatments such chemotherapy and radiation, or herbal remedies. In addition,we need to understand the effectiveness of the treatment through cancer marker indicators. With indicators which medical professionals called cancer markers, we are able to know whether our treatment have positive progress or not.

So,What is cancer/tumor marker?

Tumor markers are substances produced by tumor cells or by other cells of the body in response to cancer or certain benign (noncancerous) conditions. These substances can be found in the blood, in the urine, in the tumor tissue, or in other tissues. Different tumor markers are found in different types of cancer, and levels of the same tumor marker can be altered in more than one type of cancer. In addition, tumor marker levels are not altered in all people with cancer, especially if the cancer is early stage. Some tumor marker levels can also be altered in patients with noncancerous conditions.

To date, researchers have identified more than a dozen substances that seem to be expressed abnormally when some types of cancer are present. Some of these substances are also found in other conditions and diseases. Scientists have not found markers for every type of cancer.

Cancer Marker Tests: These are immunological methods - cancer markers that are produced as cancer grows and are detectable even before it reaches a size big enough for detection by other methods.

Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels are often elevated in liver cancers (hepatocellular) and testicular cancers (non-seminomatous). Raised levels are also present during pregnancy or some gastrointestinal cancers.

CA 15.3 values are often elevated in patients with breast cancers. When there is a history of cancer among family members, patients may be advised to also do a breast mammogram. Besides breast cancer, other non-malignant conditions (eg. cirrhosis, benign diseases of ovaries & breast) have also been known to cause elevated CA 15.3 levels.

CA 19.9 - for gastric/pancreatic or stomach cancer - It is a diagnostic tool for those with stomach trouble such as symptoms of gastritis, abdominal pains, or gas. Its level is best evaluated along with CEA marker test.


CA125 has become a widely used tumor marker which is measured most often in women with cancers of the reproductive system including the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Other cancers that may cause abnormal CA125 levels include cancer of the pancreas, lungs, breast and colon. However, CA125/CA125-II can be elevated during menstruation, pregnancy or in individuals with ovarian cysts, pericarditis, hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver or peritonitis, an infection of the lining of the abdomen, and even in 1-2% of healthy individuals. Once a cancer is diagnosed, CA125/CA125-II levels may prove to be an effective indicator of the effectiveness of cancer treatment. A declining CA125/CA125-II value may indicate a good response to treatment and a favorable prognosis. Persistently rising CA125/CA125-II levels may be associated with a growing tumor, presence of tumor on the peritoneum that lines the abdomen or a recurrence of a previously treated tumor. Additional evaluation is necessary to make such determinations.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a cancer marker to screen for colorectal cancer - it is associated with digestive tract cancers (eg of the colon) as well as other malignant and non-malignant disorders. It is recommended for those with frequent constipation, diarrhea, or bleeding piles for an initial diagnostic tool. It can also help detect Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).

EVP - Cancer marker to screen for nasophryngeal cancer. Epstein Bar virus (EBV) has been shown to have a direct relationship with NPC where it can be detected in NPC tumors and patients with NPC tend to have higher titres of EBV specific antibodies than the general population.