How often are CA125s done?

Vickierph
Vickierph Member Posts: 12
in Ovarian Cancer #1

I was diagnosed with stage1c ovarian cancer 1/31/13. Had total abdom hyster on that day with a 9 lb ovarian mass. My CA125 was never very high---78. After surgery it fell to 5.5.  I had 4 rounds of taxol/carbo. My 1st big check-up in October had a CA125 of 5.5 again. My MD does not have one scheduled for my January apptmt. My surgical recovery and chemo went pretty well. I was very scared with the dx and was worried about complications due to surgery 12 yrs ago for ulcerative colitis where I had my large colon and rectal tissue removed. I have an internal ileostomy --- I dehydrate very easily and control my sped up GI tract with meds, but things went ok with chemo. Even tho I wasn't very hungry, I made sure I drank lots of fluids. Thanks for all the great info I've picked up here. I am a hospital pharmacist, but sometimes the best info comes from people who have experienced things 1st hand. Vickie

Comments

  • Alexandra
    Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308
    #2
    Hello Vickie and welcome to CSN

    In my experience there is no set frequency of CA125 blood test. One hospital I went to does CA125 and recto-vaginal exam every 3 months for a year and then every 6 months for up to five years. Second hospital also does CT scans every 3 months in addition to CA125.

    There is another school of thought: not to do CA125 testing at all because all it does is cause fear and anxiety to the patient in remission. Recurrences are recognized and treated based on symptoms only. 

  • lovesanimals
    lovesanimals Member Posts: 1,366 Member
    #3
    Alexandra said:

    Hello Vickie and welcome to CSN

    In my experience there is no set frequency of CA125 blood test. One hospital I went to does CA125 and recto-vaginal exam every 3 months for a year and then every 6 months for up to five years. Second hospital also does CT scans every 3 months in addition to CA125.

    There is another school of thought: not to do CA125 testing at all because all it does is cause fear and anxiety to the patient in remission. Recurrences are recognized and treated based on symptoms only. 

    Hi Vickie

    When I finished my chemo at the end of March 2011, my oncologist gave me the choice of having my CA 125 tested as often as every three months or I could choose to not have it done at all unless I was feeling symptomatic.  Well, I didn't trust myself to recognize symptoms of recurrence, so I chose to have the blood test every three months.  Earlier this year in March (two years after my chemo ended), I "graduated" to having my CA 125 checked every six months.  I still see my gyn/onc surgeon every six months for the recto-vaginal exam.  (I call it the "poke and prod"!)

    Kelly

  • wholfmeister
    wholfmeister Member Posts: 315
    #4
    All over the map

    Looks like the responses are all over the map on how often the ca125 is done..

    My gyro-onc does it monthly, along with the monthly physical.  I have never stopped chemo since my diagnosis in March 2012.

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