CA19.9 Tumor markers and Prostate Cancer

[JVARA]

Hi group, I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a link between blood test CA19.9 and prostate cancer.

A bit of background I have been on AS since December 2021 where I made some life style changes, mainly diet and exercise since being diagnosed. My PCA has gone from 3.1, 3, 2.3, 2.0 and the lasts one taken this week went to 1.8. I only take a few vitamins, mainly K2, Vit D, Vit C, garlic tables and Quercetin. During this time I have also been monitoring my CA19.9 tumour marker and this has slightly elevated, I have all the tests and MRI for pancreas, liver, colon, and a colonoscopy and all came back good.

I had a chat to my local doctor and she mentioned that there may be some connection with my PC. I am still waiting to see my Urologist to get his feed back but I was wondering if anyone on the forum had similar situation.

Any feed back would be appreciated.

[Nusch]

I have never seen any study which shows a relation between CA 19.9 and PC. Did you?

[MrG68]

First I’d point out that your psa results are showing a good trend. It looks like whatever you’re doing is giving some very encouraging results. Even if your psa comes back where it goes up a little now and then, to me it’s still a win. You want your psa to be stable within a range. This test has some serious limitations so I think you should expect the odd result to go up now and then. Yours though are trending down!IMO, I try to avoid supplements where I can get them from food. The ones you have here though, again in my opinion, are ones I would consider - especially the vitamin D3 and K2. Can I ask how much you are taking? Do you know what your blood work measures?

What people don’t realize with vitamin D3, is when you take it, it’s in its ‘parent form’. This parent is converted by liver and kidneys which goes towards bone structure. Liver converts it to 25 hydroxy and then the kidneys to 1,25 hydroxy.

The parent form is absorbed by a LOT of cells. Once inside the cells they get used up. This can only happen to the parent form. Once converted they get bound to proteins that don’t allow it to get into the cells.

The 25 hydroxy is what gets measured in your blood and is stored in fat. It has a long life. The parent form has a short life and doesn’t get measured.

So, for PCa, which are cells - not bone- I believe this suggests you take the dosage at a high frequency to replenish it and at a reasonable dosage. Personally I would aim for 4000IUs daily. So I’d probably consider x4 1000IU dosages daily. Some suggest that 600IUs is adequate. That’s a matter for you to read and decide. Just so you’re aware, generally the RCTs that actually measure D3 in the blood measure the 25 hydroxy form. This isn’t the parent form which gets used up in the cells quickly. As stated, we once converted it’s generally used for bone.

Don’t just take anyones word for it, research it for yourself and make up your own mind.

As for the CA19 marker. I was under the impression that this was generally some pancreatic cancer marker. But I also think I read that it could be related to inflammation of the liver or gallbladder? Maybe. But your scans have come back ok.

If it was me, I’d do a couple of coffee enemas a week for liver function. People laugh at these but they really do cleanse your liver and make it more efficient. Apart from the enemas, I’d just continue doing exactly what you’re doing. Looks to me like you’re in great shape, but obviously keep an eye on the marker.

[JVARA in reply to MrG68]

Hi MrG68, thanks for the reply. Yes its good that my PSA is going down but I know that its a limited test. I will continue doing what I have been and pray for the best. As far as Vitamin D I only take 1000IU and the combo K2/D as well. I had my bloods done in March and all came back good..my vitamin D level was 144nmol/L. I have a follow up appointment with my Urologist at the end of the month so will see what he says..I also want to have a mpMRI and book in for a biopsy as it will be 12 months since my last after being diagnosed and started on AS.

[MrG68 in reply to JVARA]

Yeah, sure thing. You’re right about the psa test. IMO you can’t really depend on any single reading, but a trend should give a better indication. Your trend is good as far as one can tell. With a reading of 1.8, you generally wouldn’t even be seeing a urologist. The thing is though, this test is extremely limited. People with psa under 3 can still some form of PCa.

Your D3 levels look good. 144 nmol/L is 57ng/ml, especially for 1000UIs. Maybe you get a decent amount of sun, which is the superior way to get the D3.

If it was me in your situation I’d be very optimistic about that. I think AS would be the way to go. There are issues with possible side effects of surgery of you’re thinking of that. Doesn’t mean it’s not right for you, just AS to me looks like what I’d be doing in your shoes.

Let’s see what your med team say.