elevated CA125

dima
dima Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Ladies, its been a while. I've been doing great. Enjoying family and life. However, just lately my CA125 skyrocketed to 1200. A CAT scan came back totally clear. I feel a warm sension in the abdomin area which makes me think perhaps there is some kind of inflammation. My oncologist wants to run another test in a month or so. He said he does not like to start treatment based just on numbers. I feel great otherwise...no symptoms at all. Anyone out there had the same experience and it turned out to be nothing. Thanks

Comments

  • kris43
    kris43 Member Posts: 275
    #2
    I have not yet had this experience, but I will tell you what my oncologist has said to me. She doesn't go by numbers only either - and has said it takes 1-3 months for anything to show up on the scans after the numbers start rising as tumors need to be at least 1-2 cm before they can really be seen. So as long as you are being diligent and you report ANY changes ASAP, I'd said I would agree with your doctor about retesting soon. Wishing you the best of luck. Keep posting so we know how you are doing. Kris
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #3
    Dima, my oncologist has said that the CT scan will not show anything half a cm or less either. How's the appetite? That is the question they keep asking me and mine is like a horse!!! With ovarian, there is just no one sign, it seems. You just have to keep going when you can. Glad you feel great. (((HUGS))) Saundra
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #4
    Dima, sorry to hear your ca125 is so high, but great news on the CT Scan. Maybe they could do a PET Scan to see what is going on for sure.

    Hugs N Prayers Bonnie
  • lindachris
    lindachris Member Posts: 173
    #5
    Dima: My wife Linda had a similar experience. It started with minor swelling in the upper abdomen that kind of lasted all last summer. Then her CA-125 test jumped in August (to 250) then again in September (500) and then ascites developed. Fluid was drained and tested with no sign of cancer in the cells. But the ascites worsened and ultimately we went to surgery and found what the doctors labeled a "frosting" or patch of cancer in the lower abdomen. Linda had surgery but the area could not be extricated completely without messing up the ab wall so we went to a treatment of cisplatin and Gemzar. The numbers normalized after only 2 treatments, back to 8 from a high somewhere in the early 1000s. We did 5 treatments total, but Linda was really fatigued. I would suggest pressing the issue with your oncologist. The CAT scans might not necessarily show anything, but it is worth being diligent. We're 4 months out now and Linda is doing well other than neuropathy...and we're hopeful we got the cancer of course.
  • floridajo
    floridajo Member Posts: 480
    #6
    Dima,
    I had something similar,just not as high as you during my lastest chemo. It jumped up higher than it had been when I started chemo for the recurrence. I had the flu the previous month..and although I have been told that it shouldn't elevate my numbers it did. Go to the Dr. and tell him about the stomach sensations your having it could be an infection. My Onc will also not treat based on the numbers..and always wait until it is confirmed by some other sort of test. last time he did a CT scan,then a PET,then drained the ascites and got a positive report before he started me back to chemo. How you feel and the scans are really your best tools...I'll pray that it's just some type of inflammation..(((hugz)))~~~Joanne

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