HCG tumor marker testis cancer blood test
HCG HCG (Tumor marker) from blood, hCG, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin
Tests looking for an incurable disease are not allowed to be offered as preventive health research under Dutch law.
Because many types of cancer are no longer fatal but have become chronic diseases, the dividing line is less and less clear.
Informed consent: fill out consent form in comments during order
With blood tests, these tests cannot be ordered just like that.
You must first confirm that you are taking into account any potentially incriminating results and you must provide the name of the practitioner in charge of aftercare.
Please confirm in the comments during the order:
"I am sufficiently informed and accept the possibility that mentally taxing results may be found. I will discuss this result myself with my treating physician viz: (name of your treating physician)."
Tumor markers are substances, usually proteins, that your body makes in response to cancer or that are made by the cancer itself. We can measure tumor markers in your blood.
Some tumor markers belong to one type of cancer; others occur in multiple types. These substances do not prove that there is a tumor: we also find them in other diseases and even in healthy people. So the result alone does not say everything. Tumor markers can help you make a diagnosis, but only in combination with other tests.
The substances mainly tell a hospital a lot about the course of your disease.
This site tells you which tumor markers can be determined in different types of cancers.
http://www.avl.nl/diagnostiek/tumormarkers/
We can only perform the tests and provide you with the measured values, for further interpretation of these tests you need to turn to a medical specialist.
The HCG tumor marker test is more comprehensive, more sensitive and more specific than a standard pregnancy test, designed for clinical use in the context of disease monitoring, while a standard HCG pregnancy test is more focused on quick and easy detection of pregnancy.
This test is used to monitor certain types of cancers. In fact, HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) may be elevated in certain tumors, such as germ cell tumors.
Sample: Used a blood sample (1 ml serum).
Performance: Performed in a laboratory using the Electro Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA) method, which is an advanced technique for the quantitative determination of HCG.
Sensitivity and precision: High, can detect and quantify very low levels of HCG, useful for tracking tumor markers in patients.
Reference values: Provides specific reference values for men (< 5.0 mU/ml).
When beta-HCG (beta-human chorionic gonadotropin) test is positive in men, it may indicate the presence of certain types of cancer. Beta-HCG is a hormone normally produced by the placenta during pregnancy, but it can also be elevated in certain cancers, both in men and women. Here are some types of cancer in which elevated levels of beta-HCG may occur in men:
- Germ cell tumors of the testicles: This is the most common form of testicular cancer. Germ cell tumors can be seminomas or non-seminomas. Beta-HCG may be especially elevated in non-seminomatous germ cell tumors.
- Germ cell tumors outside the testicles: Sometimes germ cell tumors can develop outside the testicles, such as in the chest, abdominal cavity, or brain. These extragonadal germ cell tumors can also lead to elevated HCG levels.
- Choriocarcinoma: This is a rare but very aggressive form of cancer that can develop in the testes in men or in the placenta during pregnancy. Choriocarcinoma produces high levels of HCG.
- Teratomas: While most teratomas do not cause elevated HCG levels, some mature teratomas or immature teratomas (particularly those with elements of choriocarcinoma) may have elevated HCG levels.
- Other rare cancers: In rare cases, other types of cancer can also lead to elevated HCG levels, such as certain pancreatic cancers, hepatoblastomas (a type of liver cancer), and some types of lung cancer.
An elevated HCG level alone is not enough to diagnose cancer. Other diagnostic tests, including imaging and biopsies, are needed to confirm the presence and type of cancer. In addition, some non-cancerous conditions, such as liver disease and certain gastrointestinal conditions, can also lead to elevated HCG levels. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation by a physician is necessary when high HCG levels are detected.
Testicular cancer is relatively rare compared to other cancers, but it is one of the most common cancers in younger men, especially those between the ages of 15 and 35. The incidence of testicular cancer varies worldwide, but in many Western countries the number of new cases is somewhere between 5 and 10 cases per 100,000 men per year.
Symptoms of Testicular Cancer
Men may notice several signs or symptoms that may indicate testicular cancer, including:
Swelling or a lump in one of the testicles: This is often the first sign of testicular cancer. The lump may be painless, and sometimes men notice only a slight increase in size or a change in the way the testicle feels.
Change in the feel of the testicle: This may be a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, or a testicle that feels harder than normal.
Pain or discomfort in testicle or scrotum: Although testicular cancer is often painless, there can sometimes be pain or an uncomfortable sensation that can radiate to the lower abdomen or groin.
Collection of fluid in the scrotum: Known as hydrocele, this symptom can occur suddenly and cause swelling of the scrotum.
A dull pain in the lower abdomen or groin: This may be a result of the expansion of the testicle or the spread of the cancer.
Enlargement or sensitivity of the breasts: Although less common, a hormonal change related to testicular cancer can lead to this symptom, known as gynecomastia.
It is important to emphasize that the presence of one or more of these symptoms does not automatically mean that a person has testicular cancer. Other conditions, such as testicular cysts, infections (such as epididymitis or orchitis), and other medical problems can cause similar symptoms.
Importance of Self Examination
Men are often advised to perform regular self-examination of the testicles, ideally once a month, to detect any changes or abnormal growth in the earliest stages. When noticing any change or when in doubt, it is important to seek medical advice for proper diagnosis and, if necessary, treatment. Early detection of testicular cancer can lead to a very high cure rate, often above 95%.
