← Return to Pancreatic Cancer Concerns: What tests are done for diagnosis?

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@smurf343

If the doctors currently treating you have not ordered CA19-9 and CEA tests, I would question how familiar they are with pancreatic cancer. Those are very standard tests for pc. A small percentage of PC patients never show an elevated CA19-9, so a normal test is not definitive for absence of disease. Likewise, some other issues can elevate CA19-9 in the absence of malignancy. Pancanology's YouTube channel has a very good video on the value of CA19-9 testing and its shortcomings.

If you have a baseline HBA1c, I would also test for current values. Frequently diabetes (type 3c), weight loss and increased burping are seen prior to diagnosis.

PC is rare and the likelihood is that you don't have it, but I definitely understand your concern. My husband went through an extensive battery of tests, scans and ERCP's over the course of about 7 months before his was finally found after being referred to a pc specialist at an NCI Center of Excellence.

Good luck.

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Replies to "If the doctors currently treating you have not ordered CA19-9 and CEA tests, I would question..."

Always get a pancreatic protocol ct scan! Regular ct Scans are a waste of time and money.