Article and Video CATEGORIES

Cancer Journey

Search By

Dr. Jack West is a medical oncologist and thoracic oncology specialist, and Executive Director of Employer Services at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, CA.

Video: What is the utility of serum tumor markers in managing lung cancer?
Sat, 01/05/2013 - 09:25
Author
Howard (Jack) West, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Medical Oncology, Executive Director, Employer Services, Founder, President and CEO of GRACE

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
Mandarin LCVL
Video
王林医生用普通话讨论重要的肺癌信息。这些信息包括靶向治疗、晚期疾病的症状、循环肿瘤 DNA、治疗方案等。我们鼓励您与社区中说普通话的人分享。 Dr. Lin Wang discusses important lung cancer information in Mandarin. This information includes targeted therapy, symptoms of advanced disease, circulating tumor DNA, treatment options, and more. We encourage you to share this with the Mandarin speakers in your community. To watch the complete Playlist visit: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWsyUmdjLXhGnSxobmz4CBP3pxAj7nDa…;  
Image
Tell your story!  Apply now for the Clinical Trials Experiences through Storytelling Program
Article
We are excited to launch our third year of this program; tell your story and help us help others! Apply Online Now!     GRACE Patient Perspectives: Clinical Trials Experiences Storytelling Program Overview  
Image
Blood Cancer OncTalk
Video
Blood Cancer OncTalk was a live presentation that brought together top oncologists to discuss emerging concepts and treatment options in blood cancer. The program was chaired by Dr. Aaron Goodman, with the participation of Dr. Mazie Tsang, Hematologist / Oncologist; Dr. Autumn Jeong, Hematologist / Oncologist; Dr. Shaji Kumar, Hematologist / Oncologist; and Dr. Sridevi Rajeeve, Hematologist / Oncologist.

Forum Discussions

Hi Caregiver and welcome to Grace.  I'm sorry that you need to be here and hope we can help.  Osimertinib has better efficacy than gefitinib (including OS and reaching the brain)...

Hi Bob, Welcome to Grace.  I'm sorry about your sil.  Unfortunately, cancer becomes resistant to TKIs like tagrisso.  Sometimes all of the cancer becomes resistant at once and sometimes just parts...

Hi Kimberly, Welcome to Grace.  I'm sorry you are here and glad you've found us. 


 


It sounds like a biopsy would be the next step.  I can't speak to what...

Recent Comments

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Hi Tammy,  Welome to Grace. …
By JanineT GRACE … on Tue, 05/16/2023 - 13:44
Concerned
By Tndiuka10 on Fri, 05/12/2023 - 21:13
Hi Caregiver and welcome to…
By JanineT GRACE … on Fri, 05/12/2023 - 14:20
Hi Bob, Welcome to Grace.  I…
By JanineT GRACE … on Tue, 05/02/2023 - 12:29