The other shoe may have dropped--or not

carolenk
carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
in Ovarian Cancer #1
I've been sitting around with "inactive cancer" for several months now since I went on a chemo break in the spring of this year. I've also been following the "anti-cancer" program as outlined by Dr. Servan-Schreiber and hoping I could keep the malignant cells dormant as long as possible.

Had my CA-125 checked earlier this week and it was over 200. Yikes! At first, I was startled until I realized that I should have waited until NEXT week to have the blood draw as I had had a colonoscopy/endoscopy done the day before.

The anesthetic given for the colonoscopy procedure must cause some degree of amnesia as the whole colonoscopy experience was such a non-event, it didn't even occur to me that I should have waited to have the blood test done until after my gut settled down. Ugh!

Now I have to sit around doing the "wait and see" thing for a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, I'm looking into one of those Mexican cancer clinics just in case my number stays high. No point in freaking out as that isn't gonna do me any good anyway.

Will keep you all posted.

Carolen

Comments

  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #2
    HOLDING GOOD THOUGHTS!
    I know just what you mean, Carolen. We often 'live and breathe' by those numbers. We've had so many discussions here about what affects the CA125 reading. The bottom line for me is, to a great extent I KNOW mine is affected by things such as stress, diet, etc. So, if I've had a particularly difficult week, a little too much sugary foods (like around the holidays), or other things in general, I'll wait till I get back on track in a week or so to have my bloodwork done. Not everyone may agree with my approach, but I can think of three instances in particular where the evidence was beyond a shadow of a doubt.

    So, holding the good thoughts for you. And how were your colonoscopy results?

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #3
    Hoping...
    This is just a blip.
  • Cafewoman53
    Cafewoman53 Member Posts: 735 Member
    #4
    Sending good thoughts your way
    I hope your next test is way low try not to worry too much, even as I type those words I know how hard that is to do. Keep yourself busy and good luck !
    Colleen
  • cfont11
    cfont11 Member Posts: 115
    #5
    Waiting
    Waiting for CA125 results is one of the hardest things we have to do, along with waiting for CT scan results. Hope your re-test is low and that the cancer remains inactive. Sending hugs and prayers your way.

    What is the anti-cancer program that you are following?

    Chris
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    #6
    cfont11 said:

    Waiting
    Waiting for CA125 results is one of the hardest things we have to do, along with waiting for CT scan results. Hope your re-test is low and that the cancer remains inactive. Sending hugs and prayers your way.

    What is the anti-cancer program that you are following?

    Chris

    Wishing the best for you
    and I pray your results will be good. Boy is it ever hard to wait. Every three months I get anxious a couple of weeks before my bloodwork. Then when I call in to the docs office, I can hardly breathe while I wait to hear the rsult. Take care.

    Karen
  • poopergirl14052
    poopergirl14052 Member Posts: 1,183 Member
    #7
    kikz said:

    Wishing the best for you
    and I pray your results will be good. Boy is it ever hard to wait. Every three months I get anxious a couple of weeks before my bloodwork. Then when I call in to the docs office, I can hardly breathe while I wait to hear the rsult. Take care.

    Karen

    me too
    wishing your numbers are wrong,,waiting is the hard part, You are very strong and you will stay in remission,,val
  • Barneygirl
    Barneygirl Member Posts: 90
    #8
    Sending postive thoughts
    CA-125 can rise for many reasons and it may be related to the procedure you had. Hoping that's all it is, but I know the waiting can be hard.

    Laura
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #9
    poopergirl14052 said:

    me too
    wishing your numbers are wrong,,waiting is the hard part, You are very strong and you will stay in remission,,val

    I had labs 10 days after
    I had labs 10 days after hernia surgery - really big hernia surgery. And my doctor won't rerun it until next month, because it's way normal, surgery notwithstanding (18) and I should just "settle down." Easy for him to say.

    I understand completely. Damn numbers.

    Carlene
  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    #10
    poopergirl14052 said:

    me too
    wishing your numbers are wrong,,waiting is the hard part, You are very strong and you will stay in remission,,val

    Thanks for the support
    I so appreciate the support & encouragement--thank you! No one else really can understand what I'm going thru like you all do.

    My endoscopy/colonoscopy was perfect--even where the bowel resection was done. That's something I don't have to think about again for ten years.

    The anti-cancer program includes anti-inflammatory foods like lots of fruits & veggies (no white flour, no sugar, no hydrogenated oils, no alcohol, no peanuts or processed foods), stress management, exercise--all the stuff found to lower cancer risk/recurrence. I also see an osteopath regularly for acupuncture & nutritional support.

    The oncologist never said I was NED or even in remission only that I could take a chemo break as long as my number stayed low. I feel really well so I am in no hurry to go back on chemo. I know someone else posted that they had a rise & fall happen to their CA-125. Knowing that makes it easier to deal with my situation.

    Carolen
  • wfisaac
    wfisaac Member Posts: 60
    #11
    Praying that the number rise
    Praying that the number rise is just a temporary thing. But, I understand how it's hard to not let it hang over you. My oncologist actually hates running the CA-125 because he feels it causes so much unnecessary stress for people. He's hoping that they will be able to find other methods that don't give so many false positives.

    One time he had a patient who's number took a huge jump and it even concerned him a little and then he noticed she had some inflammation in her arm and found she had a rod that had been out of place for some time. He had her get that fixed and then redid the blood work and it was back to normal. It's crazy what other issues can cause that number to rise.

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