Fr. Mike,
I have have to admit that as time went on I resented the blood tests more and more. I have calluses on my veins from being poked so often. I don't know anything about tumor markers -if they were looking at that I wasn't aware of it. The radiation oncologist and oncologist were really interested in the results of the bloodwork and required a draw prior to every visit for up to about 2 -3 months post Tx. The oncologist was monitoring my white and red blood cell counts and creatinine (kidneys), probably looking for potential damage from the chemo and or radiation or infection maybe. Certainly I was immuno supressed for a long time. It appeared that they were all standard blood chemistry stuff. Finally I told him I had had enough needles and he said that it was cool to back off. I haven't had a blood test for months now and I don't miss it.