(rÄâ²dÃ¤r) 1. A method of detecting distant objects and determining their position, speed, or other characteristics by causing radio waves to be reflected from them and analyzing the reflected waves. The waves can be converted into images, as for use on weather maps.
A high level of the marker may indicate a worsened prognosis in some situations. The most effective and common purpose of tumor markers is to monitor the cancer treatment. As the cancer levels go on decreasing in the body, the marker also goes down. If the marker remains stagnant or increases, it is usually an indication that the patient is not responding sufficiently to the treatment.
When she was diagnosed her tumor markers were at 310. They recently got down to 22 and the oncologist said her scans show decrease in tumor sizes. She went today for routine check-up and treatment and they told her that the markers went up to 38 and she needs to get a CT scan done tomorrow. They told her not to worry too much because a number of different factors can cause an increase in tumor markers.