Article and Video CATEGORIES

Cancer Journey

Search By

Dr. Jack West is a medical oncologist and thoracic oncology specialist who is the Founder and previously served as President & CEO, currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Resource for Advancing Cancer Education (GRACE)

 

Video: What is the utility of serum tumor markers in managing lung cancer?
Author
Howard (Jack) West, MD

The question of whether and how to use blood tests, and particularly serum tumor markers, to monitor the status of a lung cancer has come up often here.  There are a few places where we've covered this in text, but for those of you who would prefer a video format for your information gathering, here's a podcast I just did on that subject for Swedish Medical Center.

[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePzQF6tFNZs[/embed]

I'll underscore that this remains a controversial area, and part of the reason the question comes up so often is that so many oncologists use serum tumors. As I try to convey in the video, I think there might be a way to use them in a limited fashion, but the danger is that we often see more emphasis placed on these results than any data would justify (there is little to no evidence indicating that their use leads to improved results).

What are your thoughts about serum tumor markers? If you're a patient or caregiver, are they being checked? If so, is there a lot of emphasis placed on these results? Do the results cause anxiety for you and/or your doc? Do the findings lead to a change in management or otherwise guide treatment? And if serum tumor markers aren't being checked or you don't know, do you want that information if it might provide another metric to follow, but not necessarily one that adds to imaging and clinical measures (i.e., how the person is actually doing and feeling)?

Next Previous link

Previous PostNext Post

Related Content

Image
Clinical Trials Storytelling 2025
Article
GRACE is pleased to introduce three amazing individuals participating in the 2024-25 GRACE Clinical Trials Experiences Storytelling Program
Article
Imagine your body's defense system, the lymphatic system, suddenly turning against you. This is the reality for those facing lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system's crucial network. This article delves into the complexities of lymphoma, exploring its various forms, from the aggressive to the indolent, and examining the latest breakthroughs in treatment, including the groundbreaking POLARIX trial and cutting-edge therapies for relapsed cases. Whether you're a patient, a loved one, or simply curious about this complex disease, this comprehensive overview will provide valuable insights into the current state of lymphoma care and the promising future of research.
Image
Melanoma Video Library
Video
In these videos, Dr. Autumn Starnes gives an overview of melanoma's prevalence and risk factors. She also discusses the ABCDE method of self-screening for skin cancer, common misconceptions regarding people of color, and melanoma, and how a person can lower their risk of developing melanoma, among other relevant topics regarding melanoma.  To watch the complete playlist, click here. 

Forum Discussions

Can SCLC also be treated with targeted therapy?

Hi amitchouhan,

Welcome to Grace. At this time, there aren't any targeted therapies to treat SCLC, but there are new treatments. Check out our latest OncTalk webinar from December. The last...

I was searching for this, Thank you so much for the info.

Glad to help.  FYI, I just edited the link, which has the agenda and links to oncologists' bios. Plus, the link is also on our home page, https://cancergrace.org/

Hope to see...

Recent Comments

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Glad to help.  FYI, I just…
By JanineT GRACE … on
I was searching for this,…
By LilahStapleton on
Hi and welcome.  I'm sorry…
By JanineT GRACE … on
Hi amitchouhan,

Welcome to…
By JanineT GRACE … on