Last week, I brought my mum to clinical lab to run a blood test and three cancer marker test. The result shows:

-Helicobacter pylori number is high , 208 U/ML, normal range is <10
-CA 199 (screening for gastrointestinal cancer) also higher than normal range, 42.9 U/ML more than normal 37.0~

As H. pylori is linked with gastrointestinal cancer, I am thinking whether to let my mum to do the endoscopy~My mum also get shocked that she has high level of H. pylori bcos she said she dont hv any gastric discomfort, any symptoms (Asymptomatic)~so, should run an endoscopy for that ? bcos if really gastric cancer, then can catch it early, then treat early~
I heard that ppl with H. pylori but no symptoms dont need treatment. But is it true? Should get antibiotic before it attacks our organ? Or should my mum run another urea breath test and see H. pylori positive or negative, if positive , then take antibiotic, then after that check again the CA 199~But I am scared that time the the cancer start developing. But high CA 199 doesnt necessarily mean gastric cancer also.
The reason I hv this doubt is that my mum dont hv any symptom~If go see private sector, sure they ask my mum run all test and endoscopy. If go government hospital, the downside is the long waiting time and I guess they dont suggest ppl do extra test so as to save money. I am so confused now...

H.Pylori test just means she has antibody towards the bacteria - doesnt mean the bacteria is still there. It could To confirm, do urea breath test.

It's cheaper compared to a scope. It will also determine if she needs to take antibiotics.

Dont worry about CA19.9 for now. It can be falsely elevated, especially when the level is not that high.

You can start saving money for scope at private, then you can bring the test results to gov.. usually in gov settings, it's the test that takes the longest time.

This post has been edited by Syd G: Mar 4 2018, 09:16 AM

First, thanks for your information. I hv one friend also with H. pylori but no symptoms. She only did urea breath test after receive treatment~So, after she run a blood test, show high level of H. pylori, she straight away took antibiotics~Urea breath test can check if the infection is still there or not after treatment, but not necessarily to do it to double confirm if already run blood test, is it? https://www.ulcer-cure.com/index.php/h-pylo...e-h-pylori-test
Bcos if possible, dont really want to run second test which take long time for the result to come out and waste more money. Urea Breath test should be a rapid diagnosis but a lot of hospital tells hv to wait 1-2 weeks.

Will consider to take antibiotics first then let my mum run again blood test, CA 199 and urea breath test to check the CA 199 still on the rise or not. Hope everything ll be fine

CA199 is a marker for colon and pancreas cancer also.... but if not mistaken it is not an accurate screening tool (you can look up medical journal papers on google regarding the accuracy of ca199 for screening these types of cancer). sometimes it might be a case of false alarm.
the gold standard for screening is doing a scope and then biopsy of any suspicious looking growth. so if you can afford it and want to put your mind at ease, do both endoscope and colonoscope.
and maybe you can consult a gastro if you haven't done so.