If you are looking for a cancer marker test in Chandigarh, Altus Lab offers a comprehensive tumour marker panel with free home collection across Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula. Tumour markers are proteins or substances that cancer cells — or the body in response to cancer — produce in elevated quantities. While they cannot diagnose cancer on their own, they are, however, an important tool for screening high-risk individuals, monitoring known cancers, and detecting recurrence after treatment. As a result, oncologists at PGIMER Chandigarh — the primary cancer referral centre for all of North India — rely on these markers as a core part of cancer management.
Our lab is founded and led by an Ex-PGIMER Chandigarh doctor with over 13 years of specialist diagnostic experience. Furthermore, because our team runs an own in-house laboratory, we process every sample on-site — which means faster and more reliable results than outsourced collection centres. Most tumour marker reports are therefore ready within just 4 hours of sample collection. Additionally, doctors at PGIMER, GMCH-32, GMCH-16, Fortis Mohali, Max Hospital, and all major Tricity oncology clinics accept our reports.
Important — Please Read Before Getting a Tumour Marker Test
Tumour markers are useful tools for screening and monitoring — but they have important limitations that every patient must understand before testing. Specifically, keep the following three points in mind:
- A normal result does not rule out cancer. Many early-stage cancers produce no elevation in tumour markers at all. A normal PSA, for example, does not therefore exclude prostate cancer with certainty.
- An elevated result does not confirm cancer. Many benign conditions can raise tumour markers — including infections, inflammation, benign cysts, liver disease, and pregnancy. Most elevated tumour markers consequently have a non-cancerous explanation.
- Tumour markers must always combine with clinical symptoms, imaging, and biopsy. Your doctor at PGIMER or Fortis Mohali will use them as one piece of evidence among several — not as the sole deciding factor for any diagnosis.
Tumour Markers for Men — The Altus Lab Male Cancer Panel
The following tumour markers are most relevant for men. Our team consequently includes all of these in the Altus Lab male cancer marker panel:
| # | Marker | Associated Cancer(s) | Also Elevated In (Benign) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PSA Total | Prostate cancer | BPH, prostatitis, recent prostate biopsy, vigorous cycling |
| 2 | Free PSA / Free:Total PSA Ratio | Prostate cancer refinement | A free:total ratio below 15% increases cancer suspicion when total PSA is borderline |
| 3 | CEA | Colorectal, lung, gastric, pancreatic cancer | Smoking, GERD, liver disease, pancreatitis |
| 4 | AFP (Alpha-Fetoprotein) | Hepatocellular (liver) cancer, testicular germ cell tumours | Hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, pregnancy |
| 5 | CA 19-9 | Pancreatic cancer, biliary cancer, gastric cancer | Pancreatitis, bile duct disease, jaundice |
| 6 | LDH | Lymphoma, leukaemia, germ cell tumours — reflects overall tumour burden | Haemolysis, liver disease, muscle injury, heart attack |
| 7 | Beta-HCG (Quantitative) | Testicular germ cell tumours, choriocarcinoma | Very low levels are normal in men and non-pregnant women |
Tumour Markers for Women — The Altus Lab Female Cancer Panel
The following tumour markers are most relevant for women. It is important, furthermore, to note that the female panel overlaps with the male panel for gastrointestinal and liver cancer markers:
| # | Marker | Associated Cancer(s) | Also Elevated In (Benign) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CA-125 | Ovarian cancer (primary marker) | Endometriosis, fibroids, menstruation, pelvic inflammatory disease |
| 2 | HE4 (Human Epididymis Protein 4) | Ovarian cancer — more specific than CA-125 alone | Renal disease — but, in contrast to CA-125, less affected by benign gynaecological conditions |
| 3 | CA 15-3 | Breast cancer — primarily for treatment response monitoring | Benign breast disease, liver disease, lung disease |
| 4 | CEA | Colorectal, breast, lung, gastric cancer | Smoking, GERD, liver disease |
| 5 | AFP | Liver cancer, ovarian germ cell tumours | Hepatitis, pregnancy, cirrhosis |
| 6 | CA 19-9 | Pancreatic, biliary, gastric cancer | Pancreatitis, bile duct obstruction |
| 7 | Beta-HCG (Quantitative) | Gestational trophoblastic disease, choriocarcinoma | Normal pregnancy produces expected and rapid elevation |
PSA Testing in Chandigarh — Everything You Need to Know
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is the most important cancer screening blood test for men over 50 in India — and additionally for men over 40 with a family history of prostate cancer. PSA exists on a spectrum: a higher PSA does not automatically mean cancer, and a lower PSA does not, however, automatically guarantee a cancer-free prostate.
What is more clinically useful than a single PSA number is the Free:Total PSA ratio. When total PSA falls in the borderline range of 4–10 ng/mL — sometimes called the “grey zone” — a Free PSA ratio below 15% significantly increases the likelihood of prostate cancer. As a result, Altus Lab offers both Total PSA and Free PSA as a combined panel so that your urologist gets a more informative result rather than just a single borderline number.
Furthermore, PSA velocity — the rate at which PSA rises over serial measurements — is an important monitoring tool. If your PSA rises by more than 0.75 ng/mL per year over time, your urologist will consequently consider biopsy regardless of the absolute PSA value. This makes regular annual testing at Altus Lab especially valuable for early detection.
CA-125 + HE4 + ROMA Score — Complete Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment
CA-125 alone has limited specificity for ovarian cancer — particularly in premenopausal women, where many benign gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids also elevate the marker. HE4, on the other hand, is significantly less affected by these benign conditions and is therefore more specific for ovarian malignancy in the clinical setting.
The ROMA Score (Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm) combines CA-125 and HE4 with menopausal status into a single, integrated risk score. At Altus Lab, our team calculates the ROMA score for every patient who orders both CA-125 and HE4 together — giving your gynaecologist at PGIMER or Fortis Mohali the most complete ovarian cancer risk picture that blood testing can currently provide.
Who Should Get a Cancer Marker Test in Chandigarh?
The following groups should particularly consider tumour marker testing. These tests are, however, most useful in specific clinical contexts — not as routine annual screening for the general public:
- Men over 50 years old — for annual PSA prostate cancer screening
- Men over 40 with a family history of prostate cancer — earlier PSA screening is consequently advisable
- Women with unexplained pelvic pain, bloating, or a family history of ovarian or breast cancer — for CA-125 and HE4
- Adults with unexplained weight loss, poor appetite, or persistent abdominal symptoms — for CEA, AFP, and CA 19-9
- Known cancer patients currently on treatment — for monitoring treatment response and detecting early recurrence
- Patients with chronic hepatitis B or C, or liver cirrhosis — for AFP monitoring as a screen for hepatocellular carcinoma
- Cancer survivors on follow-up — annual tumour marker monitoring as your oncologist recommends
Normal Ranges for Key Tumour Markers
| Marker | Normal Range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| PSA Total | <4.0 ng/mL | Age-specific ranges apply; trend over time matters more than any single reading |
| Free:Total PSA Ratio | >25% = lower cancer risk | <15% in borderline PSA range = higher cancer suspicion |
| CEA | <5.0 ng/mL (non-smokers) | <10.0 ng/mL in smokers is the adjusted cut-off |
| AFP | <10 ng/mL | Very high AFP above 400 ng/mL is more specific for hepatocellular carcinoma |
| CA 19-9 | <37 U/mL | Jaundice itself can elevate CA 19-9 — must therefore correlate with LFT results |
| CA-125 | <35 U/mL | Higher cut-off may apply in premenopausal women for some benign conditions |
| CA 15-3 | <30 U/mL | Most useful for treatment monitoring rather than initial diagnosis |
| HE4 | Varies by menopausal status | Premenopausal <70 pmol/L; Postmenopausal <140 pmol/L |
Why Choose Altus Lab for Cancer Marker Testing in Chandigarh?
There are several important reasons to choose Altus Lab for tumour marker testing. Most importantly, PGIMER Chandigarh is the primary regional oncology referral centre for all of North India — and consequently, having a lab whose reports doctors there accept is essential for seamless cancer care and follow-up.
- ✅ Founded by an Ex-PGIMER Chandigarh Doctor — specialist-grade oncology diagnostics, not a franchise collection centre
- ✅ Own In-House Laboratory — our team processes all samples on-site; consequently no outsourcing and no delays
- ✅ Reports in 4 Hours — same-day results accepted directly at PGIMER oncology department
- ✅ Free Home Collection — across Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, Zirakpur, and Kharar, 7:30 AM to 9:30 PM daily
- ✅ Reports Accepted Everywhere — PGIMER, GMCH-32, GMCH-16, Fortis Mohali, Max Hospital, and all major Tricity oncology clinics
- ✅ Digital Reports — our team delivers results via WhatsApp and email for instant sharing with your oncologist
Frequently Asked Questions — Cancer Marker Test in Chandigarh
Can a tumour marker blood test diagnose cancer on its own?
No. A tumour marker test alone cannot diagnose cancer. An elevated result indicates the need for further investigation — typically imaging such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI, followed by tissue biopsy if indicated. A normal result, furthermore, does not rule out cancer either. These tests are most valuable as part of a broader diagnostic workup or for monitoring known cancer cases over time.
My CEA result came back elevated. Does that mean I have cancer?
Not necessarily. CEA also rises in smokers, people with GERD, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and benign lung conditions. Your doctor will therefore typically repeat the test after 4–6 weeks and order imaging if the level remains elevated or continues to climb upward.
How often should men in Chandigarh get a PSA test?
Annual PSA testing is the standard recommendation for men over 50. For men over 40 with a family history of prostate cancer, annual testing should consequently start earlier. Your urologist will adjust the schedule based on your individual PSA trend and overall risk profile.
What is the ROMA score and does Altus Lab calculate it?
The ROMA (Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm) score combines CA-125 and HE4 with menopausal status to produce a single integrated ovarian cancer risk percentage. Yes — our team calculates the ROMA score for every patient who orders both CA-125 and HE4 together at Altus Lab.
Can I get a cancer marker test done at home in Chandigarh?
Yes. Altus Lab offers free home collection for all tumour marker panels across Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula. Call 0172-5017001 or WhatsApp to book a slot at a time that suits you.
Book Your Cancer Marker Test in Chandigarh Today
Early detection saves lives. While tumour marker blood tests are not standalone diagnostic tools, they are nevertheless a vital part of regular health screening — especially for individuals at higher risk due to age, family history, or chronic conditions. Book a comprehensive cancer marker panel at Altus Lab today and take the results to your doctor at PGIMER, Fortis Mohali, or GMCH-32.
📞 Call Now: 0172-5017001 / 0172-5017002
🕐 Available: 7:30 AM – 9:30 PM Daily
🏠 Free Home Collection: Chandigarh | Mohali | Panchkula | Zirakpur
✅ Founded by Ex-PGIMER Doctor | Own In-House Lab | Reports in 4 Hours