What is the CA 15 – 3 Test? Why is the test done? Everything around this, that you should know, in this post, and of course our doctors are always there to help you. Just fill in your details in the form down below and we will answer all your questions for FREE!

What is CA 15 – 3 test?

This test measures the level of cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) protein in the blood. It is used to monitor breast cancer. This test is not recommended as a screening tool for breast cancer.

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What is the normal value of CA 15-3?

The normal value of CA 15-3 is less than 30 U/mL

What is it used for?

This test is to be done to check how the breast cancer treatment is working and look the cancer has come or reoccurred after treatment. The levels of CA 15-3 protein in blood are rarely higher than normal in the initial stage of breast cancer, so this test is not done in the early detection of breast cancer.

Why do I need this test?

You may need this test to monitor your body’s response to the treatment of breast cancer. If someone has breast cancer it doesn’t mean that they have always high levels of CA 15-3. Other than breast cancer conditions it may cause a positive CA 15-3.

You may need this test:

• If you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer your doctor wants to find out how well your treatment is working.
• If your healthcare wants to find out if you have been treated for breast cancer and cancer has come back or spread. To monitor metastatic breast cancer.
• The doctor advised another test along with this test to find the cancer tumour marker called CA 27-29.

What are the benign causes of CA 15-3?

Several conditions elevate the levels of CA 15 -3:

• Chronic hepatitis
• Liver Cirrhosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Tuberculosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Benign breast disease
• Endometriosis
• Lactation and pregnancy
• Systemic lupus erythematosus

What are the malignant causes of CA 15-3?

The malignant causes are:

• Small cell lung cancer
• Liver cancer
• Colon cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Pancreatic cancer

What does a high CA 15-3 mean?

• If the levels are higher than normal then it indicates the more advanced the breast cancer and the greater the amount of cancer present.
• The cancer antigen concentrations increase as the cancer grows.
• The highest levels of CA 15-3 are most often seen in metastatic breast cancer when the cancer has spread to the bones or other organs.
• If the concentration of CA 15-3 is getting high over time may indicate that person is not responding to the treatment.

Also Read: Ovarian Cancer

For more information, you can visit medlineplus.gov and Testing.com