According to the World Health Organization, nearly 10 million people died worldwide last year because of cancer. Almost 20% of these people lost their lives as a result of smoking cigars and cigarettes, which are known to produce lung cancer.

Scientists have discovered more than 100 different types of cancers, but what exactly is this disease, and how it affects the body? Cancer results when various cells begin to mutate or grow abnormally. This cell outgrowth can lead to tumors. A tumor can be benign or malign. Benign tumors don't spread, so the cancerous cells don’t compromise other tissues in the body. Malign tumors spread to other organs if they are not removed quickly.

What is The Comprehensive Cancer Panel for Men?

The Comprehensive Cancer Panel for Men is a collection of tests a male can get to see if he has various types of cancers in his body. For example, this lab test panel can test for liver, testes, prostate, colon, rectal, pancreatic, or breast cancer in men. A simple blood sample is required to perform all these tests successfully.

How Does It Work?

It's very easy to take advantage of this collection of cancer lab tests. You can order the Comprehensive Cancer Panel for Men from DiscountedLabs.com. You'll be emailed a form which you should print and go to your nearest clinic to draw blood. Your sample is analyzed by experts and various tests are performed to see if there are cancerous cells in your body.

In most cases, the results will be emailed back to you in just a few business days. You can then take the results to your physician and ask for advice and recommendations. Based on your results, further procedures or tests might be required to improve your health.

It's safe to assume that a simple cancer test can make the difference between life and death since most types of cancers can be fatal if not caught early.

What Are the Substances Tested by the Comprehensive Cancer Panel for Men?

As mentioned earlier, the panel includes numerous tests that look at various antigens or substances in the body. When cancer develops, certain hormones are released in abnormal quantities. These are called markers. If a marker for colon cancer is discovered in the body, for example, it means that you are very likely to develop that type of cancer in the future, or the colon cancer is already in advanced stages.

Let's take a look at some of the tests included by every Comprehensive Cancer Panel for Men available on the market today.

1. Cancer antigen 15-3

The cancer antigen 15-3 is a protein produced by breast cancer tumors. This protein is measured to determine if a person has breast cancer or if he is responding to treatment. The cancer antigen 15-3 is normally produced in the body, but its levels increase when cancerous cells in the breast tissue develop.

It's important to know that other types of cancers such as lung, pancreas or prostate cancer might also cause an increase in cancer antigen 15-3 levels. This protein should be less than 30 U/ml in healthy individuals.

2. Carbohydrate Antigen (CA) 19-9

The Carbohydrate Antigen (CA) 19-9 is a special type of antigen used to detect pancreatic and colon cancers. People who have gastrointestinal problems usually have high levels of Carbohydrate Antigen (CA) 19-9. if the patient has other problems such as pancreatitis or cholestasis, then the levels of this antigen might be slightly elevated as well.

3. Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)

The prostate-specific antigen is a type of protein which might signal prostate cancer in men. As a general rule of thumb, normal PSA levels are below 4ng/dL of blood. If the PSA levels are above this level, this might mean that the patient is likely to develop or have prostate cancer or prostatitis.

The PSA test has been approved by the FDA back in 1986 and it provides a very accurate way to determine whether you have prostate cancer or not. If the PSA levels are elevated, the doctor might ask for a prostate biopsy to see if prostate cancer has already developed.

4. Cancer antigen 27-29

The Cancer antigen 27-29 is also included in the Comprehensive Cancer Panel for Men. This protein is tested to see if the patient has breast cancer (Yes, men can get breast cancer.) This test provides one of the few possibilities to test for breast cancer in adults and that's why it's included in the panel.

It's important to note here that the levels of Cancer antigen 27-29 can increase as the breast cancer progresses in a patient. An abnormally high level of Cancer antigen 27-29 in the blood demands an immediate and more complex analysis to determine the cancer stage and how it can be treated.

5. α-Fetoprotein (AFP), Tumor Marker

The α-Fetoprotein (AFP), Tumor Marker is a complex protein that might indicate multiple types of cancers in the body. This hormone is made by the liver and abnormally high levels of it might indicate liver, pancreas, stomach or testes cancer. Pregnant women who have high levels of this protein might be predisposed to congenital problems with the baby.

Apart from cancers, elevated levels of α-Fetoprotein (AFP), Tumor Marker can also be an indicator of brain tumors, renal cancer or Hodgkin's disease. It's very important to do this test to see if you are predisposed to all of these cancers or not.

6. Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) 

The Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) is usually high in people who have lung, colon or rectal cancer. This substance is tested in the beginning to see if the patient is predisposed to these types of cancers. If the levels are elevated and the patient begins treatment, the CBA is also tested regularly to see the progression of the disease and/or the efficiency of the treatment.

What Should I Know Before Doing the Test?

As mentioned earlier, a simple blood sample is required to test for all these substances in your bloodstream. However, patients are strongly recommended to stop supplementation with biotin for at least 24 hours before doing the test.

Biotin is part of the vitamin B complex and it's used by the body to convert the foods you eat into energy for your body to burn. You can take biotin from foods as well as from various supplements. Make sure that you stop supplementation with biotin until you have drawn blood in a clinic.

Who Should Do This Test?

The Comprehensive Cancer Panel for Men is designed to be used by all men if they or their physicians suspect that they have certain cancer symptoms. You can do this cancer test panel as a preventative measure or if you feel unwell and want to get your health checked. To expand your knowledge a little bit, here are a few common cancer symptoms in men.

Common Cancer Symptoms

  • Change in bowel movement - diarrhea which lasts for days, pencil-thin stools or other change in bowel movements which are not directly related to diet is a good indicator that you might need a cancer test. Having blood in the stool is also something worth investigating as soon as possible.
  • Anemia - although anemia (fewer than normal red blood cells in the bloodstream) is not directly associated with cancer, it can be a good indicator that you might need to order the test panel. People with anemia have little to no energy, feel constantly fatigued, and not in the mood for anything. This can indicate a serious health condition including cancer.
  • Lumps in breasts or testes - abnormal lumps in the breast or testicles which feel hard at touch are not normal. This might indicate that tumors are growing in these organs and you need to have your health checked immediately. Men should routinely inspect their breasts or testes on their own and check for abnormal lumps on the skin.
  • Change in urination frequency - people urinate more if they drink more liquids, but very frequent urination is not a good sign in some cases. Also, not having a good urine flow or having blood in the urine might be a sign of cancer. If urinating feels itchy or painful, this can also signify a problem with the bladder or prostate and this needs to be check quickly to see if the cells are getting cancerous.
  • Frequent coughs - it's normal to cough when you're ill, but if the coughs are persistent and you sometimes spit blood when you cough, this is a serious indicator of lung or throat cancer. Doing the test will reveal the truth about your condition, so you can begin treatment earlier and save your life.

What to Do Next?

Ordering the Comprehensive Cancer Panel for Men is an important investment in your health. Remember that an "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" and this test can reveal so much about your health. Although it might be scary to do the test at first because you don't know what results you might get, it's always better to know what's wrong with your health earlier than later.

DiscountedLabs.com is a reputable website where you can order multiple direct-to-consumer lab tests for an affordable price. You'll find the Comprehensive Cancer Panel for Men there as well as multiple other tests such as complete blood count, hormone panels for men and women, and many other discounted lab tests. Order yours today and take charge of your health!