CA125 increase

I can't answer your questions from personal experience but we have had woman who recurred, some more than once, who are doing well.  You are in a scary place but by no means one where you should lose hope.  What I would like to comment on is frequency of exams.  i don't know what the  criteria for exam frequencies is but, even if this hopefully turns out to be a false alarm,  I wouldn't be comfortable going to 6 month exams at the point you are.  I was UPSC 1a and had labs and exams every 3  months for 3 years and am currently checked every 4 months.  I completed chemo a little over 4 years ago.  I don't have ct scans.  So, if I were you, I would ask to continue frequent checks.

i wish you luck and will be looking forward to hearing good news from you.  

Els,
25 is still in range (<35). They say if the number doubles to abou 70 it indicates a recurrence.
I also get a blood test for HE4- they say it is more reliable than CA125.  There is also a test
that combines the two, though I have never had it done (think it is called ROMA).  The key is to look at trending. 
would wait another 3 months to see what the tests show then.

I am NED from Stage 4 EC (diagnosed in Oct   2014). I get pelvic, abdominal and transvaginal ultrasounds
to monitor my remission.  Don't want any more CT scans unless something is suspicious. Too much
radiation. My doctor also does the standard pelvic exam plus a pap test every 3 months. If you are really
worried, there are many other blood tests you can get that can monitor you (some for cancer in general-HCG,
DHEA-S, some for conditions that lead to cancer - ferritin, IGF-1, estradiol). I would like to be warned via
blood tests- so I look at the trends of all these tests that I get.

Takingcontrol58

Just read your post and it sure touches on my fears- I was told there is nothing as far as markers to watch and my CA125 wasn't ever elevated so my Doc was counting on physical exams and symptoms only- that doesn't feel real solid- so glad you posted as the reponses are great, as you said.  So grateful for the ladies here!!!

Sending prayers for peace and a continued dance with NED.  I know it's hard but try to stay in the day you are in- it's really all any of us has- just today and today you are fine- today you are blessed- today there is so much to be thankful for. (((HUGS)))  Keep us posted

els19 said:

Thanks

Thanks for your advice, Connie. I am planning on insisting on closer follow ups. And I want another blood test to see if this one was just a fluke. I have read about the HE 4 test too. And I plan to ask about it.  I do have a good gyn/Onc. I always get nervous before these checkups and the higher number is just making that worse. Hopefully my doctor will have something to suggest.

Sue

 

Sue, it sounds like you are making a good plan here.  While it is in the 'normal' range I think we have all worried over things - and that is OK!  Please let us know how it goes.

Finally convinced my mom's med onc to get her CA-125 levels checked to see if that is an applicable marker for her after reading this thread. It looks like it's a good marker for some people although not all. Although we don't have an initial base line and since she's started her first chemo session already, we're going to go get her blood drawn in the next few weeks and then for the rest of the treatment to see her CA-125 changes.

Wait and see is hard but sensible.  I choose  to believe your doc is right about the infection.  No need to go to bad places unless you have to!

els19 said:

Doctors appt

I saw my doctor today and my exam was good. I recently had an upper respiratory infection and a UTI. He thinks the increase in the CA 125 is a result of the infections. He said either infection could skew the CA 125. And my numbers are still in the normal range.  Since I have no other symptoms  and have a good energy level, he felt confident things are ok. We are retesting in six weeks. He said if I had not had the infections or hadn't bounced back from them he would have investigated further. He did say the CA125 is a useful tool in tracking patients like me who have USPC 3c have had at least one lymph node involvement. My cancer was contained in the uterus, hadn't went through the wall and had not spread to the ovaries or tubes.  My pelvic washings were clear. But as this sneaky disease does, it was in two lower lymph nodes. 

Thank you for sharing this very positive news! So happy for your continued good health!