elevated CA-125 AFTER surgery

kathybd
kathybd Member Posts: 126
edited March 2014 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
My Ca-125 was 97 before surgery; had complete hysterectomy with normal ovaries and tubes as well as cervix. Am Stage 3a, Grade 2-3 with a pre chemo CA-125 of 142. Have my Dr appt on Wed. Was curious if anyone knows why the elevation. Also had an alkaline phosphotase elevation. Thanks for your thoughts, in adavnce!

Comments

  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #2
    Surgery can make CA 125 elevate
    My onocologist told me that the surgery can elevate the CA 125 , so he did not even check mine until after my first chemo. I did not have one done pre-op as they felt the surgery would remove the suspicious cells. Not until the surgery did it show UPSC. Look forward to the count dropping after you get your chemo. Good luck to you.
  • kathybd
    kathybd Member Posts: 126
    #3
    Ro10 said:

    Surgery can make CA 125 elevate
    My onocologist told me that the surgery can elevate the CA 125 , so he did not even check mine until after my first chemo. I did not have one done pre-op as they felt the surgery would remove the suspicious cells. Not until the surgery did it show UPSC. Look forward to the count dropping after you get your chemo. Good luck to you.

    Thanks, RO
    I feel better already!!!
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980 Member
    #4
    kathybd said:

    Thanks, RO
    I feel better already!!!

    My PRE-surgery CA-125 was 50; POST-surgery it was 190!
    The oncologist said that the second CA-125 was too soon after my surgery to be reliable; and he considered the pre-surgery CA-125 of 50 as a mis-reading. They ended up using my 3rd CA-125 taken the same day as my 1st chemo, (but before the chemo infusion), as my BASE reading and tossing out the 1st 2 tests. That 1st-chemo-day CA-125 was 90, and it dropped after each chemo by half consistently, leading them to believe that CA-125 would be a good marker for me.
  • kathybd
    kathybd Member Posts: 126
    #5
    lindaprocopio said:

    My PRE-surgery CA-125 was 50; POST-surgery it was 190!
    The oncologist said that the second CA-125 was too soon after my surgery to be reliable; and he considered the pre-surgery CA-125 of 50 as a mis-reading. They ended up using my 3rd CA-125 taken the same day as my 1st chemo, (but before the chemo infusion), as my BASE reading and tossing out the 1st 2 tests. That 1st-chemo-day CA-125 was 90, and it dropped after each chemo by half consistently, leading them to believe that CA-125 would be a good marker for me.

    Thanks, Linda!
    I am worrying less and less. Since this was drawn for my first chemo treatment on thurs...was taken over a week ago; I wonder if they will retest me at my Pre chemo appt on Wed. Guess I will see. Appreciate everyone's input.
  • VegasQ
    VegasQ Member Posts: 2
    #6
    Question on this...
    My CA-125 has doubled in 2 weeks and now is right at 90. I have ablood clotting disorder so the oncologist has recommended a complete hysterectomy asap. My question on this is naive but I just got this info today....how and when do they find out if it's ovarian cancer? I had a uterine biopsy and it was ok but I keep having ovarian problems. When do I find out and how long does it take? Hysterectomy is scheduled for 10/27!!! I'm 48. Thanks!!! Suz
  • cathyK
    cathyK Member Posts: 93
    #7
    elevated CA-125 AFTER surgery
    I got tested for my ca-125 twice after first chemo it was 37 and 35 then the next tests were no ca-125 asked the doctor why he was not adding that test , he said it was a mistake, the nurse forgot to cross out the ca-125 off my prescripton. he said it is not accurate with endometrial cancer. was insistant that he would not do the ca-125 . he is the worst doctor I have had to deal with but the only one I can deal with with in a 2 1/2 hr distance, he is 1 1/2 hr away, I will be looking to the doc that is in ann arbor (2 1/2 hr away) for a second opinion when I get a ct scan,
    so back to the ca - 125 I will ask one more time to get this test done for my last chemo treatment which is in 3 weeks woo hoo! I will miss the fantastic nurses at the chemo center !
  • hotbody
    hotbody Member Posts: 1
    #8
    CA125 level
    My mom had surgery for cancer last May now her CA125 level went fron 9 to 132.8 in 3 months does that mean her cancer is back. And she had 6 chemo treatments.
  • Northwoodsgirl
    Northwoodsgirl Member Posts: 571
    #9
    hotbody said:

    CA125 level
    My mom had surgery for cancer last May now her CA125 level went fron 9 to 132.8 in 3 months does that mean her cancer is back. And she had 6 chemo treatments.

    CA 125
    I don't have that marker or test for my uterine cancer type and stage. Many others on this site do and will respond. I can tell you that other things in your body can make the CA 125 elevate. In the mean time you could type CA 125 in the search box and see some of the board threads on topic. Otherwise some of the sisterhood will reply within the next few days typically. Prayers for your Mom [[[HUGS}}}
    Lori
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #10
    Northwoodsgirl said:

    CA 125
    I don't have that marker or test for my uterine cancer type and stage. Many others on this site do and will respond. I can tell you that other things in your body can make the CA 125 elevate. In the mean time you could type CA 125 in the search box and see some of the board threads on topic. Otherwise some of the sisterhood will reply within the next few days typically. Prayers for your Mom [[[HUGS}}}
    Lori

    CA 125
    I can only relay what I've learned from my oncologist. When I first was diagnosed with uterine, my CA125 was over 400. During each of my chemo treatments we noticed it would drop each time. At very end of chemo it was down to 3. Continued on with my CAT scans and then my doc suggested on the next 3-month to save me with less radiation due to scan, just follow my CA125. Well it was the same -- 3. But...next 3-month will have CAT scan and blood drawn.

    What I'm getting to, my doc told me he has a "pattern" with my CA125. Shows that treatments do help it and good guide for me. Now others don't always have a good guide with CA125. I know its used extensively with ovarian cancer and many times even with that type, not as reliable.

    Ask your doc if he thinks it can be a good guide for you???

    Jan
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #11
    Northwoodsgirl said:

    CA 125
    I don't have that marker or test for my uterine cancer type and stage. Many others on this site do and will respond. I can tell you that other things in your body can make the CA 125 elevate. In the mean time you could type CA 125 in the search box and see some of the board threads on topic. Otherwise some of the sisterhood will reply within the next few days typically. Prayers for your Mom [[[HUGS}}}
    Lori

    CA 125
    I can only relay what I've learned from my oncologist. When I first was diagnosed with uterine, my CA125 was over 400. During each of my chemo treatments we noticed it would drop each time. At very end of chemo it was down to 3. Continued on with my CAT scans and then my doc suggested on the next 3-month to save me with less radiation due to scan, just follow my CA125. Well it was the same -- 3. But...next 3-month will have CAT scan and blood drawn.

    What I'm getting to, my doc told me he has a "pattern" with my CA125. Shows that treatments do help it and good guide for me. Now others don't always have a good guide with CA125. I know its used extensively with ovarian cancer and many times even with that type, not as reliable.

    Ask your doc if he thinks it can be a good guide for you???

    Jan

Discussion Boards