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Hi there,
I noticed some tenderness while showering a few weeks ago. No lumps bumps or swelling, but something just wasn't right. My father had TC about 15 years ago so I was somewhat concerned. Dad had quite a lump yet made a full recovery, so I wasn't making any funeral arrangements.
Upon my first examination the urologist did not notice anything unusual, but ordered a blood test. My results came back showing some kind of infection (possibly the cause of the original discomfort) and a HCG beta of 0.2 NG/ML.
I'm not sure how HCG levels are measured in the rest of the world but here in Japan 0.0 - 0.1 NG/ML is considered within normal limits. The doctor indicated that 0.2 was still quite low, but worth investigating, so I had an ultrasound and a second blood test.
The ultrasound came back with nothing interesting of note, but my HCG beta level was up to 0.3 NG/ML. Now I am booked in for a CT scan 2 days from now.
I guess I'm looking for information about HCG levels:
- At what point do increasing HCG levels become a real cause for concern?
- If it turns out I don't have TC what else could cause elevated levels of HCG point to?
My father eventually passed away many years later after a bout with bowel cancer (unrelated to his TC), but the urologist informed me that HCG is not a marker for that kind of cancer.
I know these are questions I should fire at my doctor, but I'm so busy digesting new information during the visit that the questions don't arise until later.
I'm quite comfortable with TC, I know a number of surivors, and of all the cancers its easy to extract in its early stages. I have 2 beautiful daughters, and no sentimental attachment to a part of my anatomy that could possibly kill me, so take it away and let me get on with life.
But the idea of a tumor somewhere else is a little more frightening (there are some organs I just can't live without), but at least my HCG levels aren't off the scale indicating that whatever we're looking for is still in the early stages of development.
I noticed some tenderness while showering a few weeks ago. No lumps bumps or swelling, but something just wasn't right. My father had TC about 15 years ago so I was somewhat concerned. Dad had quite a lump yet made a full recovery, so I wasn't making any funeral arrangements.
Upon my first examination the urologist did not notice anything unusual, but ordered a blood test. My results came back showing some kind of infection (possibly the cause of the original discomfort) and a HCG beta of 0.2 NG/ML.
I'm not sure how HCG levels are measured in the rest of the world but here in Japan 0.0 - 0.1 NG/ML is considered within normal limits. The doctor indicated that 0.2 was still quite low, but worth investigating, so I had an ultrasound and a second blood test.
The ultrasound came back with nothing interesting of note, but my HCG beta level was up to 0.3 NG/ML. Now I am booked in for a CT scan 2 days from now.
I guess I'm looking for information about HCG levels:
- At what point do increasing HCG levels become a real cause for concern?
- If it turns out I don't have TC what else could cause elevated levels of HCG point to?
My father eventually passed away many years later after a bout with bowel cancer (unrelated to his TC), but the urologist informed me that HCG is not a marker for that kind of cancer.
I know these are questions I should fire at my doctor, but I'm so busy digesting new information during the visit that the questions don't arise until later.
I'm quite comfortable with TC, I know a number of surivors, and of all the cancers its easy to extract in its early stages. I have 2 beautiful daughters, and no sentimental attachment to a part of my anatomy that could possibly kill me, so take it away and let me get on with life.
But the idea of a tumor somewhere else is a little more frightening (there are some organs I just can't live without), but at least my HCG levels aren't off the scale indicating that whatever we're looking for is still in the early stages of development.
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