For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews
All tumour markers can become elevated in a range of benign conditions
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From the Lab
All tumour markers can become elevated in a range of benign conditions
Wednesday 27 March 2019, 12:30 AM

Endometriosis and ovarian cysts can cause a raised CA 125 level
The term “tumour marker” can lead to an overestimation of the usefulness of measuring these substances in patients where the pretest probability of neoplastic disease is low, as this article’s case example and discussion illustrate
Key points, Tumour markers are not tumour-specific (or even tissue-specific) substances; they are secreted by many normal tissues, but often to excess by neoplast
Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa
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