20/08/2026
🧪 TUMOR MARKERS IN PREVENTATIVE HEALTH PACKAGES — YES OR NO?
For most healthy people with no symptoms and no specific high-risk history, the answer is generally NO.
Tests such as CEA, CA 19-9, CA-125 and AFP may sound attractive as part of a routine “cancer screening package,” but most tumor markers were not designed to screen healthy people for cancer.
Why not?
🔹 A high tumor marker does not necessarily mean cancer.
Levels can increase because of inflammation, infection and other non-cancerous conditions.
🔹 A normal tumor marker does not rule out cancer.
Some cancers may produce little or none of the marker, particularly in their early stages.
🔹 False-positive results can lead to unnecessary anxiety and testing.
This may mean repeat blood tests, scans, specialist consultations or even invasive procedures when no cancer is present.
🔹 Tumor markers are often much more useful AFTER a diagnosis.
They can help doctors monitor treatment, assess response and look for possible recurrence in selected cancers.
Are there exceptions?
✅ Yes.
Certain markers may be appropriate for specific patients based on age, s*x, family history, symptoms or increased cancer risk.
The goal of a good preventative health package is therefore not to order the largest number of tests.
It is to choose the right evidence-based tests for the right person.
🩺 Good preventative medicine is targeted, not simply “test everything.”
Explore our preventative health packages and choose the option that best suits your needs:
🌐 www.centralmedicalcentre.com/packages
Speak with your healthcare provider about which cancer screening tests are appropriate for your age, family history and individual risk factors.
Central Medical Centre
Prevention. Early detection. Evidence-based care.
