Tumor Marker Testing in Seoul: A Guide for International Patients
Which Tumor Markers Are Tested
Panels commonly include AFP (liver), CEA (colorectal), CA19-9 (pancreatic/biliary), PSA (prostate), and CA-125 (ovarian) — combined by sex and age tier.
What Marker Results Can and Can't Tell You
Markers can be elevated without cancer and normal with it — which is why Korean screening treats them as one input among several, never a standalone answer. Elevated results trigger targeted imaging, not panic.
Combining Markers With Imaging
The panel's value is triangulation: marker + ultrasound + endoscopy findings together are far more informative than any alone — the structural logic of the Korean screening model.
Common Questions
Can a blood test alone detect cancer?
No single marker is diagnostic — elevations prompt imaging follow-up, which is why panels are bundled with scans.
My marker is slightly elevated — should I worry?
Mild elevations are common and often benign; the physician review contextualizes the number before any conclusion.
Are markers included in every package?
Comprehensive tiers and above typically include a marker panel; confirm contents at booking.
How fast do marker results come back?
Usually with the main laboratory results in your English report.