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About Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.
Expertise
Questions concerning Cancer, Oncology, radiation Therapy, Tumours, Chemotherapy, Cytotoxic Drugs, Hormonal Therapy, Radiation Protection.

Experience
I'm a Doctor of Medicine. Licensed/certified physician and surgeon and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation therapy in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and the European Union. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. Now in private practice in Stockholm, Sweden. I also answer questions in these other categories: General History, Military History, Brain Tumors, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Medical Specialists > Oncology (General Cancer) > radiation inflammation

Oncology (General Cancer) - radiation inflammation

Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 6/20/2009

Question
QUESTION: I had abdominal radiation ending late April 2009 (for ovarian cancer). My cancer markers are rising. Can this be due to inflammation caused by the radiation?

ANSWER: There may be an initial effect due to the fact that the radiation kills off cancer cells so that those markers leak out at an increased rate. But if they continue to increase it is unfortunately a bad sign indicating tumor growth.

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QUESTION: Since CA125 tests for inflammation, you don't think then that it could be due to inflammation in the belly from radiation?

Answer
Yes CA125 is elevated in some inflammations in the abdominal area and at least theoretically radiation induced inflammation could induce such an elevation. I am however not aware of any clinical studies that support such a possibility. CA125 is mostly known as a cancer marker for ovarian cancers (but also for some other gynecological cancers and even some other cancers and some other gynecological conditions). Even if a radiation induced inflammation is able to cause such an elevation (uncertain) that does not change my response. Since such an inflammation is temporary a continued elevation of this marker would probably be a bad sign. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!

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