Cancer is more curable when detected early. A combination of tests is required to accurately diagnose cancer and early detection is vital. The complete evaluation of a patient usually requires a thorough history and physical examination along with diagnostic testing. Many tests are needed to determine whether a person has cancer, or if another condition (such as an infection) is mimicking the symptoms of cancer. Effective diagnostic testing is used to confirm or eliminate the presence of disease, monitor the disease process, and to plan for and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Clinical chemistry uses chemical processes to measure levels of chemical components in body fluids and tissues. The most common specimens used in clinical chemistry are blood and urine. Many different tests exist to detect and measure almost any type of chemical component in blood or urine. Components may include blood glucose, electrolytes, enzymes, hormones, lipids (fats), other metabolic substances, and proteins.

Tumor markers are substances either released by cancer cells into the blood or urine or substances created by the body in response to cancer cells. Tumor markers are used to evaluate how well a patient has responded to treatment and to check for tumor recurrence. Research is currently being conducted on the role of tumor markers in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancers.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), tumor markers are useful in identifying potential problems, but they must be used with other tests for the following reasons:

People with benign conditions may also have elevated levels of these substances in their blood.
Not every person with a tumor has tumor markers.
Some tumor markers are not specific to any one type of tumor.

Commonly Used Tumor Markers Include:

• Alpha-Feta protein (AFP) – Liver, Ovary, Testicle – Alpha-fetoprotein is normally elevated in pregnant women since it is produced by the fetus. However, AFP is not usually found in the blood of adults. In men, and in women who are not pregnant, an elevated level of AFP may indicate liver cancer or cancer of the ovary or testicle. Noncancerous conditions may also cause elevated AFP levels.
• Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)- Colorectal – CEA is normally found in small amounts in the blood. Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer that raises this tumor marker. Several other cancers can also raise levels of carcinoembryonic antigen.
• CA 15-3- Breast, Ovary, Lung, Prostate – This marker is most useful in evaluating the effect of treatment for women with advanced breast cancer. Elevated levels of CA 15-3 are also associated with cancers of the ovary, lung, and prostate, as well as noncancerous conditions such as benign breast or ovarian disease, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and hepatitis. Pregnancy and lactation also can raise CA 15-3 levels.
• CA 19-9- Colon, Stomach, Bile Duct, Pancreas -This marker is associated with cancers in the colon, stomach, and bile duct. Elevated levels of CA 19-9 may indicate advanced cancer in the pancreas, but it is also associated with noncancerous conditions, including gallstones, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and cholecystitis.
• CA 27-29- Breast, Colon, Stomach, Kidney, Lung, Ovary, Pancreas, Uterus, Liver – This marker, like CA 15-3, is used to follow the course of treatment in women with advanced breast cancer. Cancers of the colon, stomach, kidney, lung, ovary, pancreas, uterus, and liver may also raise CA 27-29 levels. Noncancerous conditions associated with this substance are first-trimester pregnancy, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, benign breast disease, kidney disease, and liver disease.
• CA 125- Ovarian – Ovarian cancer is the most common cause of elevated CA 125, but cancers of the uterus, cervix, pancreas, liver, colon, breast, lung, and digestive tract can also raise CA 125 levels. Several noncancerous conditions can also elevate CA 125. CA 125 is mainly used to monitor the treatment of ovarian cancer.
• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)- Testis, Ovary, Liver, Stomach, Pancreas, Lung – HCG is another substance that appears normally in pregnancy and is produced by the placenta. If pregnancy is ruled out, HCG may indicate cancer in the testis, ovary, liver, stomach, pancreas, and lung. Marijuana use can also raise HCG levels.
• Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) – LDH is a protein that normally appears throughout the body in small amounts. Many cancers can raise LDH levels, so it is not useful in identifying a specific kind of cancer. Measuring LDH levels can be helpful in monitoring treatment for cancer. Noncancerous conditions that can raise LDH levels include heart failure, hypothyroidism, anemia, and lung or liver disease.
• Neuron -Specific Enolase (NSE)-Neuroblastoma, Lung – NSE is associated with several cancers, but it is used most often to monitor treatment in patients with neuroblastoma or small cell lung cancer.
• Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)-Prostate – Prostate-specific antigen is always present in low concentrations in the blood of adult males. An elevated PSA level in the blood may indicate prostate cancer, but other conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis can also raise PSA levels. PSA levels are used to evaluate how a patient has responded to treatment and to check for tumor recurrence.
• Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP)- Prostate, Testicular, Leukemia, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – PAP originates in the prostate and is normally present in small amounts in the blood. In addition to prostate cancer, elevated levels of PAP may indicate testicular cancer, leukemia, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as well as some noncancerous conditions.

Our cancer marker testing is provided by our Medical Team with consultation and must be used with traditional medical testing including ultrasound, MRI, CT Scan, and or biopsy for proper evaluation of risk, and treatment progress.

We recommend a New Patient Visit for the most comprehensive approach to your health or a Pre-Lab Visit for a quick snapshot prior to lab testing and a Post-Lab consult to review your results.

Cancer often has no specific symptoms, so it is important that people limit their risk factors and undergo appropriate cancer screening. The common symptoms and conditions that may occur with cancer risk include:

• Persistent cough or blood-tinged saliva
• A change in bowel habits
• Blood in the stool
• Unexplained anemia (low red blood cell count)
• Breast lump or breasts discharge
• Lumps in the testicles (often painless 90% or uncomfortable)
• A change in urination
• Blood in the urine
• Hoarseness
• Persistent lumps or swollen glands
• Obvious change in a wart or a mole
• Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
• Unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge
• Unsuspected weight loss, night sweats, or fever
• Continued itching in the anal or genital area
• Non-healing sores
• Headaches
• Back pain, pelvic pain, bloating, or indigestion

The principal risks of developing cancer include:

• Age
• Chemical & Toxin Exposure to Cancer-Causing Substances
• Excess Alcohol
• Genetic Link
• Hormone Imbalance
• Chronic Inflammation
• Immuno-suppression
• Infectious Agents
• Obesity
• Radiation
• Excess Sunlight
• Tobacco
• Poor Lifestyle – Diet, Lack of Sleep, Stress

Your Naturopath or Nurse Practitioner will help assess which test is right for you, including an analysis of the most cost-efficient path of testing. We recommend a New Patient Visit with one of our Naturopathic Doctors for the most comprehensive approach to your health or a Pre-Lab Visit for a quick snapshot prior to lab testing as there are many tests available.  Lab testing alone is a one-dimensional picture of your health. The expertise of a health professional is required to create a three-dimensional picture for proper selection, and interpretation of lab testing. To complete your care we recommend booking your Post-Lab consult 2 weeks after testing to review your results and receive your tailored health plan.

Most of the integrative cancer risk testing is not offered under OHIP based services from your medical doctor who is more focused on assessing disease. Our goal is to assess your health by evaluating high risk factors including genetics, refer to your medical doctor for conventional testing for additional assessment where indicated and then work in prevention.

Third-party insurance companies may cover all or a portion of your consultations. Most of other integrative testing is not currently covered by private insurance companies. Please check with your individual provider for details and how to submit claims.

Your Revivelife clinician will review all findings and create a tailored plan to you based on what are the root causes of your cancer risk imbalances. The use of tailored meal plans, nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals (oral or IV), herbs, probiotics, prebiotics, stress management and or acupuncture that promote healing are often advised. One approach may be the use of high dose vitamin C which supports immunity and is a powerful antioxidant. Laboratory studies have shown that high doses of IV vitamin C (which is able to increase serum vitamin C levels to 14x oral dose levels) may slow the growth and spread of prostate, pancreatic, liver, colon, and other types of cancer cells. 1-21  Another option may include the use of carnitine. Carnitine is an amino acid that plays a critical role in energy production, transporting long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria so that they can be oxidized  to produce energy. Carnitine may help reduce fatigue, improve mood and quality of sleep resulting from chemotherapy, radiation treatment, poor nutritional status and low carnitine levels. 22,23 

We recommend a New Patient Visit for the most comprehensive approach to your health or a Pre-Lab Visit for a quick snapshot before lab testing and a Post-Lab consult to review your results and receive your tailored health plan.

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