CA 125

applegreen
applegreen Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Good day to all!

My sister had a test of CA 125 the first result is 128 then went another test it came up to 200. Per her Gynecologist whe will have to undergo DNC then test will be made again. Do we have to worry about the test of Ca 125? I have no idea at all about these tests please bear with me.....according to her normal should be 35.....

Comments

  • Cindy54
    Cindy54 Member Posts: 452
    #2
    Hello
    I was told that anything under 21 was a good number. A lot of things can put the number up as you will read about on the boards here. Follow your sister and her doctor very careffully and ask lots of questions. What prompted the CA125 test? I know it is not common for a doctor to just give this to you without a valid reason. There is a lot of good information here. Welcome to the boards, even though I wish you did not have to be here....Cindy
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #3
    DNC?
    Haven't heard of a DNC after a high CA-125 since it is for the uterus and the CA-125 is a marker for ovarian cancer. I have heard of a vaginal sonogram as the next step. Or a CT scan. It is important for your sister to have someone with her in all doctors appointments to take notes and prompt questions as there are lots of new terms coming at you and in the fear of what is coming your brain does not function. Ask all the questions you want and we will try to answer and share our experience. She should write questions before appts. as you tend to forget them and doctors tend to rush things. Hope this helps, Saundra
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #4
    CA 125
    Hi Applegreen,

    I would think her doctor would do an ultra sound on her. I have had my CA 125 drawn at 2 different labs. Some labs the normal is under 35 and others under 21. The result sheet will tell you which number that lab uses. I always receive my results at home.

    Hope that helps.

    Libby
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #5
    Ultra Sound
    I would really want an ultra sound or ctscan before a DNC. Maybe go see a gyn/onc for a second opinion. My concern is if she did have cancer a dnc would not help and only delay the early diagnosis. Please have her get a second opinion or a referral.
  • chiller
    chiller Member Posts: 11
    #6
    D&C
    I believe you mean a D&C. D stands for dialate and I've forgotten what C stands for. It's a roto-rooter on the uterus. I agree with BonnieR that I would go to an OBGYN oncologist for a second opinion.
  • lnyeholt
    lnyeholt Member Posts: 59
    #7
    chiller said:

    D&C
    I believe you mean a D&C. D stands for dialate and I've forgotten what C stands for. It's a roto-rooter on the uterus. I agree with BonnieR that I would go to an OBGYN oncologist for a second opinion.

    Dilate and cutlage
    I've had several D&Cs for my problems with fibroid tumors. The lining of the uterus is scraped and abnormal tissue removed. Biopsies of the tissues can be taken then but not from the ovaries. It's possible the doctor suspects some infection in that area may be raising the CA125 count and wants to rule that possibility out before becoming more aggressive. If after the D&C the CA125 count doesn't lower I would definitely want at least an ultrasound - and would probably not want to wait for the D&C to have it done. My CA125 was 40 when my ovarian cancer was accidentally discovered when I went in for a laparoscopic hysterectomy for the fibroids in March. There was no detectable abnormality on the ultrasound I had the previous December. Even if an ultrasound comes back o.k. if there is any enlargement of either or both ovaries or the elevated CA125 has not been explained to satisfaction, insist on laparoscopic surgery so the doctor can check out what's going on internally and possibly take biopsies of the ovaries.

    Lyn
  • arbor3
    arbor3 Member Posts: 103
    #8
    ca125
    Hi

    My ONC said anything under 35 on your CA125 was a good range. I agree with Saundra have someone go with your sister to the Dr Appts and take notes. When I was first dx I could not tell you what the Dr said, Thankfully I had someone taking notes.

    HUGS!!!!! Dinora
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #9
    I agree
    I agree with all the ladies! I would get a scan before getting a D&C and get someone to go with me to help sort out the Q and A time with the doc to be objective. I would really want a good reason to be getting a D&C. Maybe there are other indicators like changes on the PAP or something the doc is not talking about. If the doc can't give a good reason for the D&C other than a hight CA125 I think I would get a second opinion.
    My two cents,
    Wishing you and your sister the best,
    kathleen

    PS All the labs seem to be a bit different, but for the CA125, under 24 for post-menopause and under 35 for pre-menopause is the info that I have. Even though inflamation etc can affect the CA125, they seem to always use it for dx (along with a scan) and follow up during treatment and after unless it is proven not a good marker for the patient. There are other tumor markers they can use too for OVCA, if the CA125 is not a good indicator.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #10
    LPack said:

    CA 125
    Hi Applegreen,

    I would think her doctor would do an ultra sound on her. I have had my CA 125 drawn at 2 different labs. Some labs the normal is under 35 and others under 21. The result sheet will tell you which number that lab uses. I always receive my results at home.

    Hope that helps.

    Libby

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #11
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

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