Is it rare to have normal CA-125 reading , at 17 or so and still have ovarian cancer?

recnac_grl
recnac_grl Member Posts: 38
in Ovarian Cancer #1
Is it rare to have normal CA-125 reading , at 17 or so and still have ovarian cancer? Reason being, I have had BC and went to have a check up since I hadn't had a pelvic in years ( due to hysterectomy , though I still have one ovary and one fallopian tube)and was having "symptoms" that scared me.
Pelvice was normal as was CA 125 so I am 'out of the woods" right?

Comments

  • Susan53
    Susan53 Member Posts: 178
    #2
    don't know
    Hi recnac_grl not sure and don't want to scare you but I had a CA125 of 7 when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The test is not always a cancer marker for everyone. A pap smear will not show ovarian cancer. You may want to ask your gyn. if they will do ultra sounds, both internal and external ultra sounds. Wishing all the best for you and praying that it is not OVCA. hugs Sharon
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #3
    All of my tests were
    All of my tests were "normal" range but had to have a hysterectomy. It was then that they found endometrial cancer. The CA-125 never came into play. I had it in my uteris and my one ovary. Even the internal sonogram didn't pick it up. Since you previously had BC, you may just want to check this out to be sure and ease your mind.
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #4
    CT scan
    Ask your doctor if they will do an CT scan. An ultrasound missed my disease.
  • wanttogetwellsoon
    wanttogetwellsoon Member Posts: 147
    #5
    Hi Recnac ...
    I was wondering why it was that you were worried about having ovarian cancer. Do you have the symptoms or it that you were worried about having it because you have had BC? (Actually, I'm not sure what BC is but I presume by it you mean some kind of cancer.) I think the time to get worried about having ovarian cancer or any type of c is when you get the symptoms of it or when you're told you've got it. There's no point worrying when it's not the time to worry, is there? If you're still worried, I think it's time to see your doctor for reassurance. You asked about CA125 results. The answer is that CA125 numbers only mean something when applied to individual patients. So, for example, if a person's CA125 reading is high, then a doctor might order more tests to be carried out. It does not necessarily mean that the patient has cancer. A raised CA125 can be caused by other conditions in the body. Conversely, if a patient's CA125 number is 'low normal' it does not mean that they don't have cancer either. Doctors use CA125 results to track a patient's progress, so, say for example, a patient is usually between 20 and 30. If it goes up to 65, it might be an indication that the cancer is becoming unstable in someone who has already been diagnosed. Some patients with ovarian cancer are found to be in the 'normal' range and the situation stays that way throughout their illness. It's easy to get hung up over CA125 results. I'm glad that my own readings have never been raised in this area which means that I'm not constantly worrying about getting these particular results and fretting over them. Good wishes come your way.:)
  • Susan53
    Susan53 Member Posts: 178
    #6
    Kaleena said:

    All of my tests were
    All of my tests were "normal" range but had to have a hysterectomy. It was then that they found endometrial cancer. The CA-125 never came into play. I had it in my uteris and my one ovary. Even the internal sonogram didn't pick it up. Since you previously had BC, you may just want to check this out to be sure and ease your mind.

    Kaleena
    Hi were your uterine cancer and your ovarian cancer both the same cancer? My CA-125 never was a marker for me either. My first path. report said that my uterine cancer and ovarian cancer were the same. After my hyst. I had another path. report and it stated that they were very similar but different. I also had the cancer only on the one ovary. Sharon
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #7
    Susan53 said:

    Kaleena
    Hi were your uterine cancer and your ovarian cancer both the same cancer? My CA-125 never was a marker for me either. My first path. report said that my uterine cancer and ovarian cancer were the same. After my hyst. I had another path. report and it stated that they were very similar but different. I also had the cancer only on the one ovary. Sharon

    Sharon, Although my cancer
    Sharon, Although my cancer was found both in my uterus and on my left ovary, after many many tests it was determined that it was all endometrial adenocarcinoma, although it was never determined where it originated from. I had a recurrence about 4 years after treatment and the biopsy came back with the same. Although when they removed the mass, it was negative. I do not get the CA125 test anymore, by the way.

    Kathy
  • Susan53
    Susan53 Member Posts: 178
    #8
    Kaleena said:

    Sharon, Although my cancer
    Sharon, Although my cancer was found both in my uterus and on my left ovary, after many many tests it was determined that it was all endometrial adenocarcinoma, although it was never determined where it originated from. I had a recurrence about 4 years after treatment and the biopsy came back with the same. Although when they removed the mass, it was negative. I do not get the CA125 test anymore, by the way.

    Kathy

    Thanks Kathy
    Thanks for answering my post. Really curious about mine also, they are both called endometriod adenocarcinoma the uterine was a grade 2 and the ovarian was a grade 3. They were both found at stage one. I also do not get CA-125 tests anymore. I did talk my family doctor to running a CA-125 just out of curiosity. I haven't had it done yet maybe next week. Kathy that is strange with your recurrence the biopsy came back with the same. When they removed the mass it was negative. How did they explain that to you just curious. Sharon
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #9
    Susan53 said:

    Thanks Kathy
    Thanks for answering my post. Really curious about mine also, they are both called endometriod adenocarcinoma the uterine was a grade 2 and the ovarian was a grade 3. They were both found at stage one. I also do not get CA-125 tests anymore. I did talk my family doctor to running a CA-125 just out of curiosity. I haven't had it done yet maybe next week. Kathy that is strange with your recurrence the biopsy came back with the same. When they removed the mass it was negative. How did they explain that to you just curious. Sharon

    With needle biopsies on a
    With needle biopsies on a mass, the sample that they get can be the only cancer in that part because it was just a small or only part of the mass or the part that the biopsy could be the negative side of a mass. Unless the whole mass is removed, it is uncertain. This is what I was told anyway. And because all of my scans were negative or within normal limits at that time, it could have been just beginning.

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