Question: Hi, One of my friend is suffering from pancreatic cancer from last 9 months,he has been going through chemo as prescribed by Doctors and is also getting his CT scan and CA19-9 blood test done when required.My Question is that this time after his Chemo i.e. 2 weeks after he had his CT scan and CA19-9 blood test done, in the test it has been found that the size of the tumour is same as compared to last CT Scan and it has also not spreaded but CA19-9 report has shown increase in counts.What does this mean,as the size has not increased it is same as it was in the past scan but the CA19-9 report has shown the deviations. I would also like to throw light on the fact that this time he was given strong chemo dose as compared to past treatment as the line of treatment was changed. Please guide what does this mean increased counts in CA19-9 report but the size of the tumour has neither increased nor decreased but then it has not spreaded in other areas as per the CT Scan

Hi, I would like to know... can there be a possibility that a tumor can be cancerous in initial stages but after the chemo therapies if the size of the tumor remains same does not change the tumor can be non cancerous, but as mentioned in previous interaction the CA19-9 report has got deviations. I would like to tell you that there has been 3 to 4 scans done after the chemos...in the first scan the size of the tumor was reduced & the CA19-9 report was not good there was an increase in counts,which ultimately concluded that the size reduced and did not spread ed in other parts..in other remaining scans the size remained same but there was not much deviation in the CA19-9 report..what does this actually conclude because there has been a confusion as the size is constant despite of strong chemo and the report of CA19-9 report is showing increase in counts. As consulted with the doctor,it has been advised to go in for another biopsy named NeoEndocrine,as the doctor himself is not convinced with the fact if the tumor was or has been cancerous,as so much strong chemo has been given there might have been response to the treatment either the tumor might have got reduced or vise versa. Please throw light on the fact what should be concluded as it has become mystery.