CA125 rising, should I be concerned?

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froggy1
froggy1 Member Posts: 205
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi Ladies,
'Went to the Doc today for my four week check-up before chemo(I am doing maintenance for a year after the initial carbo/taxo.) My CA125 is low. My baseline was pegged at 5. This may seem low, but my original CA125, in the thick of things, was "only" 300. WELL, each visit, it seems to be going up a point. First, to 6, now to 7. I understand that "doubling" seems to be a cause for concern, 'not sure abut little rises.
My Doc thinks it's no big deal, but naturally I am freaking out. I hasn't been above a 5 yet and I am wondering if this is the beginning of the "return." Can anybody relate?
My Doctor is also retiring, which also has me stressed out. He is the founder of the practice. I feel as if the rug has been pulled out from under me! Froggy

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  • cancer survivor x 4
    cancer survivor x 4 Member Posts: 177
    #2
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    CA-125
    Froggy1,
    I have been off of chemo since Nov. of 2009. I bottomed out at a 5. I went from 5 to 6 to 7 and then back to 6. I have a blood draw every month. I had my 6 month CT scan and my exam with the ob/gyn oncologist. Everything was fine. I bet your number goes down again. Relax. I was feeling just like you. Scared. Everything was okay. Thank-You, Paula
  • froggy1
    froggy1 Member Posts: 205
    #3
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    cancer survivor x 4 said:

    CA-125
    Froggy1,
    I have been off of chemo since Nov. of 2009. I bottomed out at a 5. I went from 5 to 6 to 7 and then back to 6. I have a blood draw every month. I had my 6 month CT scan and my exam with the ob/gyn oncologist. Everything was fine. I bet your number goes down again. Relax. I was feeling just like you. Scared. Everything was okay. Thank-You, Paula

    Thanks Paula
    Thanks for the positive reply. 'Hope you're right. I so hate to live by these stupid numbers! Ginny
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #4
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    Froggy, I completely
    Froggy, I completely understand. I was upset when mine went up a tenth of a point. The nurse thought I was nuts. But I don't think a 2 point rise means anything. And 5 is really no better than 7 - and both are great.

    Look at it this way....if it goes up one point a month, you have about 2 YEARS before it reaches the upper limits of "normal".

    Carlene
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #5
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    Any number
    0 to 10 is considered the same number, is what all my docs have told me. Your CA fluctuates up and down within on day, so any one day it can be 5 or 8 or 3 and actually be the same number.
    kathleen
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #6
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    Sister went from 6 to 13
    Just wanted to share that my sister went from her low of 6 to 13, and then a few years after that up a bit more. She has never recurred, in fact cancer free for over 8 years almost 9.
  • froggy1
    froggy1 Member Posts: 205
    #7
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    BonnieR said:

    Sister went from 6 to 13
    Just wanted to share that my sister went from her low of 6 to 13, and then a few years after that up a bit more. She has never recurred, in fact cancer free for over 8 years almost 9.

    Thanks ladies
    Thanks for all the encouraging replies. It has not been a good week for the Froggy.'Started with vicious vomiting Sunday night(Happy Mother's Day!), reminiscent of my previous bowel obstruction, which resulted in surgery. 'Had an emergency X-ray yesterday. They said all is well, but I'm still not convinced. I'm hoping it is a flu bug. 'Supposed to get chemo tomorrow. We shall see!
    Ginny
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #8
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    froggy1 said:

    Thanks ladies
    Thanks for all the encouraging replies. It has not been a good week for the Froggy.'Started with vicious vomiting Sunday night(Happy Mother's Day!), reminiscent of my previous bowel obstruction, which resulted in surgery. 'Had an emergency X-ray yesterday. They said all is well, but I'm still not convinced. I'm hoping it is a flu bug. 'Supposed to get chemo tomorrow. We shall see!
    Ginny

    I understand
    during my several months in remission I worried constantly. Everytime I had stomach ache I wondered if it was cancer. I was at the ER once monthly with symptoms of bowel obstruction....bowel spasms, vomiting and not being able to eat. Everytime I went I had no evidence of obstruction. I modified my diet...no popcorn or nuts and drinking lots of water. I have not problems since. GOOD LUCK!!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #9
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