Blood work normal, but.....

LeapOfF8th

Hi all - I am very new to this board (just started lurking last week) and wondered about how significant blood work was with regard to diagnosing cancer.

In early October, I started having some pain in my lower abdomen and after a few days went to see my GP.  They ordered an ultrasound (non-vaginal) which detected a large mass.  Because they were unable to determine exactly where the mass was, an MRI was ordered and my GP was in contact with my Ob/GYN, who fit me into their schedule as soon as we knew when the MRI was approved by the insurance company.  I figured it was a fibroid and that I would probably just end up having a hysterectomy as I am 48, through bearing children, and believe I am pretty much on the down side of menapause (maybe two periods a year, have been having hot flashes, night sweats etc. for a couple of years, gotten heavier, etc.)

My pain has gone away and other than an occasional heaviness, and a little more back pain than usual, I feel fine.  My MRI was last Wednesday, and the results came in Thursday morning and were forwarded to my ob/gyn. Thursday evening I received a call from my ob/gyn that the results did not look good and were very concerning.  She wanted me to consult my insurance and find out what gynocological oncologists were affiliated with my insurance and let her office know so they could set something up ASAP - she did not want to wait until my Tuesday appointment with her.  She was also ordering blood tests and wanted me to go down Friday morning so the blood work would be cooking over the weekend.  I know she ordered 3 or 4 tests (CA-125 among them), but I don't remember all of them.

Needless to scare, I was petrified as was my husband - it's been a very long couple of days. 

So this morning, when I spoke with my ob/gyn's nurse to cancel my appointment for tomorrow (I have an appt, Wednesday at MD Anderson), she said my blood work came back and that the doctor was very happy with it- it looked good.

So, I am really happy to hear that the blood work came back looking good; does this mean I can pretty much breath easy?  Or am I pinning too much hope on good bloodwork?  Will bloodwork always show something if there is a problem?

The way my doctor sounded on the phone Thursday night was very serious, and I wasn't sure if an MRI would show something that looked that bad.  She said a biopsy would be necessary to be sure.

Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?  I am not sure whether to be happy, cautiously optimistic or what; hesitant to pub all my eggs in one basket only to find them all cracked on Wednesday. 

NoTimeForCancer

Wow - it sounds like you have

Wow - it sounds like you have been on quite the emotional roller coaster!  CA125 numbers are just a tool.  They are not neccessarily a good indicator of anything.  Mine was a 36 after my surgery and dropped to 10 after the first chemo.  After talking with my gyn/onc last week he said that it is probably not a good indicator for me.  It is just a number, what is more important is HOW YOU FEEL and WHAT IS YOUR BODY TELLING YOU?

I would suggest you get a hold of your ob/gyn and have her explain to you just what she thought it was and why the sudden stop.  Did you have the biopsy?  When is that scheduled? 

I know it is all scary, but try not to get too far ahead of yourself. 

Glljcawley

Good Bloodwork

Hi, Leap. My mom was recently dxd with Ovarian Cancer about three months ago, but her trouble started last December. She began having blood in her stool and was constipated. All of her life she has had the opposite of constipation and had been dxd with IBS. She had a history of scar tissue wrapping itself around her intestines from when she'd had a partial hysterectomy when she was 28 (she's 68 now), and had one surgery to dissect the scar tissue away from intestines. When she became constipated, she had a colonoscopy and the dr was unable to make it in all the way. More tests were ordered (CT, vaginal ultrasound, MRI, nuclear medicine studies, and an EUS) and two masses were found in her sigmoid rectum area. A cyst was also seen on her right ovary, but looked to b benign on imaging. Nevertheless, a CA-125 was administered and her values were normal. After the EUS was done, that dr swore the masses were nothing more than lipomas. Mom continued to have bleeding, clotting, and constipation and we sought a second opinion. That dr performed another colonoscopy using a pediatric endoscope and was able to get through and took needle aspirates of the tumors. Another CA-125 was done and it too was normal. A few days later the path came back on the two tumors in the sigmoid rectum as ovarian cancer. She was scheduled for surgery the following Tuesday. They did cross sections of her tumors while she was on the operating table to try to confirm dx since it had presented so strangely. Path came back again as OVCA. She also had two other very large tumors that had never shown up on all the scans resulting in the removal of most of her large colon and a permanent ostomy bag. That was all in late July/August. Her incision became infected and she had to have a wound vac for nine weeks. Last Thursday she began her chemo. She again had another CA-125 test which came back normal despite positive path for OVCA. I've told u all of this not to scare u, but to make u aware that u must b ur own advocate and a normal CA-125 is not an indication there is no ovarian cancer. The best and most immediate way to determine what ur mass is is by getting it biopsied. If it is OVCA, finding out sooner rather than later is the most productive way to go forward. My mom is Stage IV with mets to her colon, abdominal wall, and 3 lymph nodes. There were no mets in her liver detected. Her surgery took 6 1/2 hours and she had cancer in more places than she didn't, but her surgeon took out all that he could to give her the best possible chance. Her journey continues. I urge u to b proactive in pursuing what ur mass is, and I wish u the best of luck!!!

 

 

LeapOfF8th

Glljcawley said:

Good Bloodwork

Hi, Leap. My mom was recently dxd with Ovarian Cancer about three months ago, but her trouble started last December. She began having blood in her stool and was constipated. All of her life she has had the opposite of constipation and had been dxd with IBS. She had a history of scar tissue wrapping itself around her intestines from when she'd had a partial hysterectomy when she was 28 (she's 68 now), and had one surgery to dissect the scar tissue away from intestines. When she became constipated, she had a colonoscopy and the dr was unable to make it in all the way. More tests were ordered (CT, vaginal ultrasound, MRI, nuclear medicine studies, and an EUS) and two masses were found in her sigmoid rectum area. A cyst was also seen on her right ovary, but looked to b benign on imaging. Nevertheless, a CA-125 was administered and her values were normal. After the EUS was done, that dr swore the masses were nothing more than lipomas. Mom continued to have bleeding, clotting, and constipation and we sought a second opinion. That dr performed another colonoscopy using a pediatric endoscope and was able to get through and took needle aspirates of the tumors. Another CA-125 was done and it too was normal. A few days later the path came back on the two tumors in the sigmoid rectum as ovarian cancer. She was scheduled for surgery the following Tuesday. They did cross sections of her tumors while she was on the operating table to try to confirm dx since it had presented so strangely. Path came back again as OVCA. She also had two other very large tumors that had never shown up on all the scans resulting in the removal of most of her large colon and a permanent ostomy bag. That was all in late July/August. Her incision became infected and she had to have a wound vac for nine weeks. Last Thursday she began her chemo. She again had another CA-125 test which came back normal despite positive path for OVCA. I've told u all of this not to scare u, but to make u aware that u must b ur own advocate and a normal CA-125 is not an indication there is no ovarian cancer. The best and most immediate way to determine what ur mass is is by getting it biopsied. If it is OVCA, finding out sooner rather than later is the most productive way to go forward. My mom is Stage IV with mets to her colon, abdominal wall, and 3 lymph nodes. There were no mets in her liver detected. Her surgery took 6 1/2 hours and she had cancer in more places than she didn't, but her surgeon took out all that he could to give her the best possible chance. Her journey continues. I urge u to b proactive in pursuing what ur mass is, and I wish u the best of luck!!!

 

 

Thanks for responding

Thank you so much for responding, ladies.  I will be seeing the gyn. oncologist tomorrow and am certain they will want to do a hysterectomy and be sure to biopsy everything.  I had to pick up a CD with the images and the radioligists reports yesterday to bring to my appointment at the cancer center tomorrow and the report did say highly suspicious of malignancy because of the size  - and that it's a complex solid mass - the rest was not in layman's terms, so it was greek to me.

I am going to stay positive in the meantime (just counting down until tomorrow's appointment - this waiting is the worst part), and be sure that the specialist I see tomorrow understands my concerns.  As you both say, the CA 125 is not a definitive thing, just a tool, as I imagine the other blood tests are.  I will definitely be my own advocate and go with my inner voice.

I am hoping that even if there is a malignancy, it will be contained and is early enough that taking all those female parts out will do the trick.

Thanks ladies and I wish the best to you all. How long of a wait is it for a biopsy after surgery?    

poopergirl14052

LeapOfF8th said:

Thanks for responding

Thank you so much for responding, ladies.  I will be seeing the gyn. oncologist tomorrow and am certain they will want to do a hysterectomy and be sure to biopsy everything.  I had to pick up a CD with the images and the radioligists reports yesterday to bring to my appointment at the cancer center tomorrow and the report did say highly suspicious of malignancy because of the size  - and that it's a complex solid mass - the rest was not in layman's terms, so it was greek to me.

I am going to stay positive in the meantime (just counting down until tomorrow's appointment - this waiting is the worst part), and be sure that the specialist I see tomorrow understands my concerns.  As you both say, the CA 125 is not a definitive thing, just a tool, as I imagine the other blood tests are.  I will definitely be my own advocate and go with my inner voice.

I am hoping that even if there is a malignancy, it will be contained and is early enough that taking all those female parts out will do the trick.

Thanks ladies and I wish the best to you all. How long of a wait is it for a biopsy after surgery?    

Blood work

 

isn't always accurate....please follow up with your Gyn/Onc.   The MRI is a good indicator. My chemo nurse said you can get your blood drawn three times in a day and they would all be different. Are you speaking of Ca-125? Please update us when you can..stay strong.... Val

LeapOfF8th

poopergirl14052 said:

Blood work

 

isn't always accurate....please follow up with your Gyn/Onc.   The MRI is a good indicator. My chemo nurse said you can get your blood drawn three times in a day and they would all be different. Are you speaking of Ca-125? Please update us when you can..stay strong.... Val

Ca-125 among others

Hi Val - yes, the CA125 one the first of 3 or 4 tests my doctor ordered last week.  I guess all came back within normal levels, but I am thinking I am not quite out of the dark yet.  I guess the proof will be in the pudding, as they say.

Thanks for your knowledge and support and will let you know what tomorrow brings.

In the meantime, hugs to all of you supportive ladies here who are fighting the good fight and staying strong and positive!

lovesanimals

LeapOfF8th said:

Ca-125 among others

Hi Val - yes, the CA125 one the first of 3 or 4 tests my doctor ordered last week.  I guess all came back within normal levels, but I am thinking I am not quite out of the dark yet.  I guess the proof will be in the pudding, as they say.

Thanks for your knowledge and support and will let you know what tomorrow brings.

In the meantime, hugs to all of you supportive ladies here who are fighting the good fight and staying strong and positive!

Hi LeapOfF8th

Please let us know the outcome of your appointment with the gyn oncologist tomorrow.  If you can, please take someone you trust with you, as a second set of ears.  It would be a good idea for that person to take notes for you during the appointment.  Write down any questions you can think of ahead of time too.

Warmly,

Kelly