Cancer Tumour Marker Blood Tests in Birmingham
A blood test can be a useful part of investigating cancer, but tumour markers are easily misunderstood. They are not a simple ‘cancer test’ that rules it in or out, and a raised result very often has a harmless explanation. At House of Health in Birmingham, our consultant-led tumour marker testing is used as it should be: to investigate specific symptoms, monitor a known condition, or assess risk when there is a clear reason.
Every result is reviewed and explained by a doctor, so you understand what it does and doesn’t mean, and exactly what to do next.
We Accept The Following Insurance
Important: Please Read Before Booking
These blood tests measure specific tumour markers. They are not a substitute for diagnostic screening and cannot diagnose or rule out cancer on their own. Results should always be interpreted by a qualified clinician in the context of your symptoms and history. If you have symptoms that concern you, please see your GP.
Consultant-Led Tumour Marker Testing In Birmingham UK
Tumour markers are substances measured in the blood that can be linked to certain cancers, such as PSA for prostate cancer and CA125 for ovarian cancer. Used well, they can support a diagnosis, track a known condition, or inform risk assessment. Our role is to make sure the right test is done for the right reason, and that your results are interpreted in full clinical context, never handed to you as a number to decode alone.
Consultant-Led Interpretation
Every result is reviewed and explained by one of our doctors, in the context of your history and symptoms, rather than left as a raw figure.
The Right Test, For the Right Reason
We discuss whether a tumour marker test is genuinely appropriate for you before we run it, helping you avoid unnecessary tests and false alarms.
Advanced Marker Panels
Access to a wide range of tumour markers, including PSA, CA125, CEA, AFP, CA19-9 and thyroid markers, processed by accredited UK laboratories.
Clear Guidance & Next Steps
You leave understanding what your results mean, what they don’t, and any onward referral or monitoring that is recommended.
A Brief Overview
Assessment Time
Approx. 20 minutes (consultation) / approx. 15 minutes (blood draw)
Consultation Style
In-person, consultant-led assessment at our Birmingham clinic
Results
Doctor-reviewed and explained in simple English, with clear next steps
Appropriate For
Monitoring a known condition, investigating symptoms, informed risk-based testing
Referral
Not Required (Direct Access)
Pricing
Individual tests from £99 · Consultation from £150
Insurance accepted — Bupa, Vitality, WPA, AXA
As Seen On
The Tumour Markers We Test At Our Birmingham Clinic
Each marker below is available as an individual blood test that you can book directly. All are a simple blood sample taken at our clinic, with results reviewed by a clinician. Reference ranges are shown only in the clinician’s results report and are not intended for self-interpretation.
AFP — Alpha-fetoprotein
£99Helps assess liver and certain germ-cell (testicular/ovarian) conditions.
Used in the assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (liver), germ cell tumours and hepatoblastoma. Can also be raised in cirrhosis, hepatitis and pregnancy.
Reference range (results report only): < 10 ng/mL (concerning > 400 ng/mL)
CEA — Carcinoembryonic antigen
£99A marker used mainly to monitor bowel and several other cancers.
Associated with colorectal, lung, breast, pancreatic, gastric and medullary thyroid cancers. Primarily used for monitoring rather than initial diagnosis.
Reference range (results report only): < 5 ng/mL (non-smoker); < 10 ng/mL (smoker)
CA 125
£99Most commonly used in the assessment of ovarian conditions.
Associated with ovarian (primary use), endometrial, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancers. Can also rise with endometriosis, fibroids and peritonitis.
Reference range (results report only): < 35 U/mL
CA 19-9
£99Used in the assessment of pancreatic and bile-duct conditions.
Associated with pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, gastric and colorectal cancers. Undetectable in some individuals (around 5-10%).
Reference range (results report only): < 37 U/mL
PSA (total & free)
£99Prostate health marker — total and free PSA with ratio.
Used in prostate assessment. A higher free-to-total ratio (>25%) is associated with a lower cancer risk. Can also be raised by benign prostate enlargement, prostatitis and urinary retention.
Reference range (results report only): < 4 ng/mL (age-dependent)
CA 72-4
£200Specialist marker used mainly for stomach and ovarian assessment.
Associated with gastric cancer, ovarian mucinous tumours, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Often combined with CEA for gastric monitoring.
Reference range (results report only): < 6.9 U/mL
CA 15-3
£99Marker used to monitor breast cancer.
Mainly used for monitoring metastatic breast cancer; also associated with ovarian and lung cancers. Not recommended for initial breast cancer screening.
Reference range (results report only): < 30 U/mL
β-hCG — Beta-hCG
£99Marker used in testicular and pregnancy-related tumour assessment.
Associated with testicular germ cell tumours (non-seminoma), choriocarcinoma and gestational trophoblastic disease. Often paired with AFP for testicular cancer staging.
Reference range (results report only): < 5 mIU/mL (non-pregnant)
LDH — Lactate dehydrogenase
£99A general marker of cell turnover, used alongside other tests.
Raised in lymphoma, leukaemia, melanoma, testicular and germ cell tumours. Non-specific, also raised by tissue damage and haemolysis.
Reference range (results report only): 140–280 U/L
β2-MG — Beta-2 microglobulin
£99Marker used for assessing and prognosticating blood cancer.
Associated with multiple myeloma, lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Also used as a prognostic marker.
Reference range (results report only): < 2.4 mg/L
SPEP / SIFE — Serum protein electrophoresis
£99Looks for abnormal proteins associated with bone marrow conditions.
Detects an M-protein (paraprotein) band associated with multiple myeloma, Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia and MGUS. Immunofixation is used to characterise the protein type.
Reference range (results report only): Qualitative result
Myeloma Screen
£200Comprehensive bone-marrow protein screen (electrophoresis + immunofixation + light chains).
A fuller workup for myeloma and related conditions, characterising any abnormal protein found.
Reference range (results report only): Qualitative result
Calcitonin
£99Thyroid marker, mainly for medullary thyroid assessment.
Associated with medullary thyroid carcinoma; also used for MEN2 screening and monitoring.
Reference range (results report only): < 10 pg/mL
Thyroglobulin (Tg)
£99Marker used to monitor differentiated thyroid cancer after treatment.
Used for monitoring papillary and follicular thyroid cancer after surgery. Anti-Tg antibodies can interfere with the result.
Reference range (results report only): < 0.2 ng/mL (post-thyroidectomy target)
Chromogranin A (CgA)
£99Marker used to assess neuroendocrine tumours.
Associated with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), phaeochromocytoma and carcinoid tumours. Proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) use significantly raises CgA and should be withheld for 2 weeks before testing.
Reference range (results report only): < 100 ng/mL
Not sure which test is right for you? That is exactly what your consultation is for; we will advise what is appropriate and what isn’t.
When Tumour Marker Testing Is Useful
Tumour marker testing is most valuable when there is a clear clinical reason. We commonly use it to:
Monitor a Known Diagnosis
Track a diagnosed cancer, its response to treatment, or any sign of recurrence, alongside your specialist.
Investigate Specific Symptoms
When you have symptoms that warrant it, a marker can be one part of a broader assessment with your doctor.
Assess Higher Risk
For those with a relevant family history or known risk factors, informed, risk-based testing can be appropriate.
Informed-Choice PSA Testing
For men aged 50 and over who wish to consider a PSA test, with proper counselling about its benefits and limitations.
Post-Treatment Surveillance
Ongoing monitoring after cancer treatment, coordinated with your treating team.
Alongside NHS Screening
Our testing complements, and never replaces, the national cervical, breast and bowel screening programmes, which we always encourage you to attend.
What to Expect During Your Assessment
Before Your Appointment
You tell us what is prompting your enquiry. We send clear instructions in advance, including any preparation needed before your blood draw.
Your Consultation
Your doctor discusses your history, symptoms and concerns, and advises whether tumour marker testing is appropriate for you, and which tests, if any, are worthwhile. We will not run tests that are not in your interest.
Your Blood Draw
If testing is appropriate, our clinical team takes your sample in clinic and sends it to an accredited UK laboratory for analysis.
Your Results & What They Mean
Your doctor reviews your results with you in plain English, explaining what they do and don’t indicate, and putting any raised marker in its proper context.
Referral & Follow-Up
Where anything needs further investigation, we arrange prompt onward referral and support you through the next steps.
House of Health for Tumour Marker Testing
Consultation & Testing Pricing
Initial Consultation
A consultant assessment to discuss your history and concerns, and to advise which tumour marker tests, if any, are appropriate for you.
Individual Tumour Marker Test
Most single markers are £99. The specialist markers CA 72-4 and the Myeloma Screen are £200. Full list and prices are shown above.
Blood Draw (Phlebotomy)
A wider panel of relevant markers, where clinically appropriate.
Results Review & Follow-Up
A consultation to review your results, explain what they mean and agree any next steps.
Note: Any onward imaging, specialist referrals, or additional investigations are charged separately and clearly explained in advance. Your doctor will only ever recommend tests that are appropriate for you.
Meet The Experts
Dr Sobia Arshad
MRCP (Medicine) · MRCP (Endocrinology)
Dr Sobia Arshad leads endocrine care at House of Health and brings particular expertise in thyroid assessment, including markers used to monitor thyroid cancer, such as thyroglobulin and calcitonin.
She holds two MRCP qualifications from the Royal College of Physicians and is a Thyroid Multidisciplinary Team Lead, an NHS consultant at King’s College Hospital and a private practitioner at The Sloane Hospital. She interprets results carefully and explains them in plain terms, recommending safe, evidence-based next steps.
Dr Anita Raja
CEO and Co-Founder of House of Health · Qualified Clinical Trichologist
Dr Anita Raja is a respected GP, media doctor and CEO of House of Health. She leads the medical investigation and diagnostic side of patient care, ensuring every patient receives a comprehensive evaluation when blood test results are reviewed, with a focus on uncovering the root cause rather than reacting to a single number.
This places her at the heart of how tumour marker results are interpreted and explained, and of the counselling that decides whether a test is right for you in the first place.
Dr Shabi Ahmed
Dr Shabi Ahmed is a highly experienced Consultant Urologist, known for his patient-focused approach and clinical excellence. With years of experience across both the NHS and private practice, he diagnoses and treats the full range of urological conditions.
At House of Health, he leads PSA testing and personalised prostate monitoring programmes, with PSA as the key blood marker used to assess prostate health, and on-site ultrasound and cystoscopy available for rapid, accurate diagnostics where needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not on its own. Tumour markers can support the investigation and monitoring of cancer, but they are not a reliable way to confirm or rule it out, especially in someone without symptoms. A raised marker often has a harmless cause, and a normal marker doesn’t guarantee all is well. That is why we use them alongside your symptoms, history and, where needed, further tests.
A tumour marker is a substance, usually a protein, that can be measured in the blood and is sometimes associated with a particular cancer, such as PSA with prostate cancer or CA125 with ovarian cancer. Levels can also rise for benign reasons, so results always need to be interpreted in context.
Not necessarily cancer. PSA is frequently raised by an enlarged prostate or infection, and CA125 by conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids or even menstruation. A raised result means it is worth looking into with a doctor, not that you have cancer.
For most cancers, no. They can miss cancers and flag false alarms, which is why they are not used for population screening. The evidence-based screening programmes in the UK, cervical, breast and bowel, remain the right route for that, and we will always encourage you to take part in them.
Markers exist for several cancers, including prostate (PSA), ovarian (CA125), bowel (CEA), liver (AFP), pancreatic (CA19-9), thyroid (thyroglobulin and calcitonin), myeloma and neuroendocrine tumours. Their usefulness varies widely, as your consultant will explain.
Tumour marker tests look at individual, established markers for specific cancers. Multi-cancer early-detection tests are a newer, separate type of test that screens for signals from many cancers at once. They are still being evaluated and are not the same as the tumour marker testing offered here. We are happy to discuss the difference with you.
No. You can book a consultation directly, in person or by phone, without a GP referral.
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