Suspected+pancreatic+cnacer - Antibody detected in blood

	Asked by andrea (Male ) on Mon 31, Mar 2008 11:23am :
	My 71 year old father is awaiting MRI scan results on his pancreas and liver. An antibody was detected in his blood that indicated a pancreatic problem. He may need an endoscopic procedure next. Are you able to tell me what the antibody might be and if its presence means cancer? His only other symptom is weight loss, though not excessive and his mother died 2 years ago of pancreatic cnacer. Thank you
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	Answer by Dr Bobby V, MD (oncologist) on Mon 31, Mar 2008 12:45pm: Hi, My guess is that your father may have tested positive for the Ca 19.9 antigen. This is a "tumor marker" and its presence may indicate an underlying pancreatic malignancy. Pancreatic cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer in the USA. Over 30,000 cases are diagnosed each year. Men are affected in a slightly higher proportion than women. Risk factors include smoking (including "passive smoking" now called ETS or Environmental Tobacco Smoke), older age, African American race, Ashkenazi ancestry, obesity, diabetes, and sedentary lifestyle. Does the fact that his mother had pancreatic cancer put him at higher risk for developing it himself? It is estimated that only 10 to 20% of pancreatic cancers have a genetic or familial hereditary basis. Activation of "oncogenes" or inactivation of "tumor suppressor genes" is involved in the development of pancreatic cancer. Let me emphasize that the mere presence of elevated levels of Ca 19-9 is not diagnostic of pancreatic cancer. This marker may be increased in several benign conditions involving the pancreas as well. Thank you for using our service.  If you are satisfied with the answer or if you want a detailed answer for your question, please make a donation and request for further clarifications.  Our oncologists will provide an elaborate answer for your clarification.   Please make a donation by clicking the button below. You may donate using funds from your PayPal account or Credit Card. Please rate my answer (select the stars below, no need to log in.)
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