: For example, if the normal range is 0-35 for a cancer antigen test, if a person’s test result is a number other than 0 (let’s say 20) , does that mean that they have cancer cells or that their risks of getting cancer are higher even though 20 is technically within “normal” range?
I’ve just always been curious as to how technicians are able to interpret these tests for accuracy to rule out cancer if the results don’t always say “0”.
Do most people have Cancer antigens?
In: 5
Not exactly. An antigen test just tests to see if your body is producing the necessary proteins to fight the disease, not whether or not you have it. A testing range of 0-35 means that in a healthy person, we expect a range of 0-35 to be present. What a lot of people don’t know is that you actually produce cancerous cells all the time in your life. Your body is just usually good at detecting and killing off the defective cells before they become infectious. So you would expect to find anti-cancer proteins in a healthy person to prevent cancer cells from forming tumors.
When they are outside of that range, that is when there may be a sign that you might have actually developed cancer as a disease.
Incidentally, if you have ever wondered why there are so many medications for things like asthma, arthritis, and eczema that list “cancer” as possible side effects, it’s because they are immunosuppresants and may stop your body from being able to find cancerous cells before they become tumors.
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