Marilyn Ask Dale

My CA 27 29 antigen test show very high – I am alarmed what does it mean?

Thank you for providing me the blood tests along with your answered questionnaire.

In reviewing your answers and the test results, with your history of chemotherapy assault, and not haveing any symptoms of cancer I suggest you focus on the repair of your liver and detoxing the chemicals that linger from the chemo.

Below is the section that describes the answer from the university of Rochester. I added the yellow highlighting to show the relevant section for you.

What do my test results mean?

Many things may affect your lab test results. These include the method each lab uses to do the test. Even if your test results are different from the normal value, you may not have a problem. To learn what the results mean for you, talk with your health care provider.

It's important to know that a positive CA 27-29 test does not mean that you have breast cancer or that breast cancer has come back. Your test results can be higher than normal for other types of cancer. These include liver, pancreatic, ovarian, and colorectal cancers. Some conditions that aren't cancer may cause a positive CA 27-29 test. And some people with breast cancer do not have a positive CA 27-29 blood test.

Health providers measure CA 27-29 in units per milliliter (U/mL). A normal test should be less than or equal to 38 U/mL. Here is what your test results may mean:

• If your CA 27-29 is less than 38 U/mL, it may mean that you don't have active breast cancer.
• If your CA 27-29 is 38 U/mL or greater, you may have active breast cancer, your breast cancer may have come back, or your breast cancer may have spread. When breast cancer spreads to an area outside the breast, it is called metastasis.
•  If your CA 27-29 is 38 U/mL or greater, you may have a condition other than breast cancer that raises CA 27-29. These conditions include other types of cancers. They also include noncancerous breast diseases, cysts of the ovary, and liver disease. When CA 27-29 goes up because of a condition other than cancer, the test is called a false-positive. 

From https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx%3FContentTypeID%3D167%26ContentID%3Dca_27_29