Question about the CA125

Cindy54
Cindy54 Member Posts: 452
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi Ladies...I have seen so many posts with so many different numbers in them that I am not sure what the normal numbers are anymore. One said that anything below 30 was okay, my own doctor said anything under 20 was okay. But I see so many ladies doing chemo who have very low single digit numbers. I guess I am getting a little confused. I was at 19 before surgery, now at 15. But there was no evidence of anything spreading in all the biopsies, so for now, nothing more is required to be done. I guess my question is, how do you know what the "ggod" numbers are. Is it that it is different for everyone? Thanks for any input, hugs to you all....Cindy

Comments

  • dustygal1030
    dustygal1030 Member Posts: 3
    #2
    CA125
    My doctor told me that anything below 35 was good. My CA125 count was 1500 before my surgery in 8/05. After surgery, it went to 45. Now, in the past 3 yrs and after 6 chemo treatments it stays between 10-14. I get a little anxious when it goes up a little, but the next time i go back it goes down again. I only know what my doctor told me, because i don't know anyone that has any type of ovarian cancer. Mine was Primary Pereteneal Carcenoma(rare type of ovarian cancer). Glad you are getting good results!!! That is always a BIG blessing.
  • jane65
    jane65 Member Posts: 277
    #3
    Cindy
    Hi Cindy,
    I have epithelial OVCA staged 4B and my oncologist said any reading of the CA125 below 35-40 is considered normal.
    Hope that helps.
    Jane
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #4
    Depends on lab too
    When I started, 3/2007, I was told anything below 35. Then my cancer center started using a different lab or different equipment and it changed to anything below 21 was normal. I started at near 3000 and got to below 10 after chemo and surgery. The CA125 is a very good marker for me but it is not for everyone.
    The blood test measures a protein that your body produces in response to the cancer cells. Not everyone produces the protein the same. Hope this helps. Saundra
  • ladyjogger31
    ladyjogger31 Member Posts: 289
    #5
    CA 125
    Hi Cindy, My onc says the normal range is 35 and under. I'm a stage 3c when I was diagnosed my CA 125 was 13,000 before surgery, after surgery it went down to 7,222. I did get it down to 34 but it started to creep back up . I had a pet/ct scan done and it showed a tumor on my vaginal cuff. I will be starting radiation for it.
    Hugs and Prayers Terry
  • Cindy54
    Cindy54 Member Posts: 452
    #6
    ladyjogger31 said:

    CA 125
    Hi Cindy, My onc says the normal range is 35 and under. I'm a stage 3c when I was diagnosed my CA 125 was 13,000 before surgery, after surgery it went down to 7,222. I did get it down to 34 but it started to creep back up . I had a pet/ct scan done and it showed a tumor on my vaginal cuff. I will be starting radiation for it.
    Hugs and Prayers Terry

    For All of You
    Thanks ladies for all the replies. Your info was good. And Saundra, you let me know things I had never thought of. Very helpful, thank you. Cindy
  • Susan523
    Susan523 Member Posts: 231 Member
    #7
    CA125 Range
    My lab uses a different test for the CA125, so the "Normal" range for me is 3.5 - 17.0

    Be sure to know which test your lab uses, as some are in the "Normal" range up to 35.0

    xoxo
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #8
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • cancer survivor x 4
    cancer survivor x 4 Member Posts: 177
    #9
    ca-125
    The lab my doctors use flag anything over a 20, but everything I read says 35 or under is normal. You are right about single digit people taking chemo. My ca-125 after surgery and before chemo was a 10. I was a stage 2. I had a ct scan, a pet scan, and an MRI before I left the hospital and I scanned clean, but the chemo is supposed to be a safty net. They can not be for sure that there is not any bad cells floating around in the pelvic or abdomenal area. My ca-125 is now an 8. I have 2 treatments left to take. I think it depends alot on the grade. A grade 3 is very aggresive, so they want you to do chemo. Hope this information helps you out. Paula
  • wendyladi98
    wendyladi98 Member Posts: 5
    #10
    cancer survivor x 4 said:

    ca-125
    The lab my doctors use flag anything over a 20, but everything I read says 35 or under is normal. You are right about single digit people taking chemo. My ca-125 after surgery and before chemo was a 10. I was a stage 2. I had a ct scan, a pet scan, and an MRI before I left the hospital and I scanned clean, but the chemo is supposed to be a safty net. They can not be for sure that there is not any bad cells floating around in the pelvic or abdomenal area. My ca-125 is now an 8. I have 2 treatments left to take. I think it depends alot on the grade. A grade 3 is very aggresive, so they want you to do chemo. Hope this information helps you out. Paula

    understand the confusion
    My initial score was 17 and I have stage 1C so I understand how confusing it can be. I don't know why exactly mine was so low but I am so thankful I am one of the lucky ones that this silent killer wasn't so silent with. I got really sick which prompted the CT. Even with all that they still want me to have chemo which I am all for an aggressive approach.
    Wendy
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #11
    Good question ... good answers :-)
    Hi Cindy, as you can see each lab is different and each person is different. I have a friend whose ca125 is always in 2000's and she has less cancer than I do when I go down to 6, yes that is not a typo. For me over 100 is very high anymore and our clinics norm is 25 or below, so go figure. So each lab can be different and then each person.

    It sounds like you are in a very good place ~ P.T.L. Hugs BonnieRose
  • ManyWheat
    ManyWheat Member Posts: 6
    #12
    Wacky CA 125
    My Mom just passed away today....she was diagnosed last December. She had surgery and her CA 125 was in the normal range after that. She still had chemo to kill off any cells that were missed during the surgery. They told us it was a safety net. She stayed completely normal 0-35 until October of this year. However, in August she started experiencing abdominal pain and vomitting again. She saw her oncologist, he ran the labs and they were still normal. Her scans showed up normal. It wasnt until a month later when she had a polyp removed that the cancer was found. Still her number was only a 24. We started chemo again before it ever became abnormal. Sadly, the chemo did nothing. Then she had a stroke. Recovered. Then had kidney failure, until she passed away today. So, in our case her CA 125 never increased until after a cancerous polyp was removed and then....2 months after symptoms showed it finally rose. Best of luck with your battle. I hope and pray that you continue to do well.
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #13
    ManyWheat said:

    Wacky CA 125
    My Mom just passed away today....she was diagnosed last December. She had surgery and her CA 125 was in the normal range after that. She still had chemo to kill off any cells that were missed during the surgery. They told us it was a safety net. She stayed completely normal 0-35 until October of this year. However, in August she started experiencing abdominal pain and vomitting again. She saw her oncologist, he ran the labs and they were still normal. Her scans showed up normal. It wasnt until a month later when she had a polyp removed that the cancer was found. Still her number was only a 24. We started chemo again before it ever became abnormal. Sadly, the chemo did nothing. Then she had a stroke. Recovered. Then had kidney failure, until she passed away today. So, in our case her CA 125 never increased until after a cancerous polyp was removed and then....2 months after symptoms showed it finally rose. Best of luck with your battle. I hope and pray that you continue to do well.

    My sympathy
    I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. We like to think that she now has her angel wings and is watching over all of us. God Bless and give your family comfort. Saundra
  • ManyWheat
    ManyWheat Member Posts: 6
    #14
    saundra said:

    My sympathy
    I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. We like to think that she now has her angel wings and is watching over all of us. God Bless and give your family comfort. Saundra

    Thank you
    Thank you so much. I know she's up there watching over me and my sisters. My 2 sisters have "talked" to her and I havent. Its been 3 weeks today...I just have no idea what to do or how to move on. I'm so deeply upset. More than I ever thought I would be.

    BranDee
  • AlexFM1
    AlexFM1 Member Posts: 1
    #15
    ManyWheat said:

    Thank you
    Thank you so much. I know she's up there watching over me and my sisters. My 2 sisters have "talked" to her and I havent. Its been 3 weeks today...I just have no idea what to do or how to move on. I'm so deeply upset. More than I ever thought I would be.

    BranDee

    Prayers for you
    I was looking for information regarding my friend that has Stage 3 ovarian cancer and was moved by your post. My prayers are with you. Since I believe in the Lord, I personally believe that she is just busy as usual, just somewhere else.

    BTW, my friend's CA 125 was 1,110 pre-surgery and is not 124 post surgery. What does that mean?
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #16
    AlexFM1 said:

    Prayers for you
    I was looking for information regarding my friend that has Stage 3 ovarian cancer and was moved by your post. My prayers are with you. Since I believe in the Lord, I personally believe that she is just busy as usual, just somewhere else.

    BTW, my friend's CA 125 was 1,110 pre-surgery and is not 124 post surgery. What does that mean?

    Post a new thread to this discussion group
    Alex, you might get more information and answers if you start a new topic in our group. Just click on Start a new topic on the page listing the different topics going on. It is at the top left hand side, I believe.

    Anyway the drop in CA125 is a good sign. This blood test measures the amount of cancer antibodies and is a good marker for some of us and not so good for others. Different labs use different normal ranges. mine considers anything under 21 normal. Some use 30-35. A drop of 1110 to 124 indicates that much of the disease has been removed by surgery. Chemo will drop it even more, hopefully. If so, this will indicate a drop in the active cancer cells.

    Saundra
  • carol2dogs
    carol2dogs Member Posts: 132
    #17
    ManyWheat said:

    Wacky CA 125
    My Mom just passed away today....she was diagnosed last December. She had surgery and her CA 125 was in the normal range after that. She still had chemo to kill off any cells that were missed during the surgery. They told us it was a safety net. She stayed completely normal 0-35 until October of this year. However, in August she started experiencing abdominal pain and vomitting again. She saw her oncologist, he ran the labs and they were still normal. Her scans showed up normal. It wasnt until a month later when she had a polyp removed that the cancer was found. Still her number was only a 24. We started chemo again before it ever became abnormal. Sadly, the chemo did nothing. Then she had a stroke. Recovered. Then had kidney failure, until she passed away today. So, in our case her CA 125 never increased until after a cancerous polyp was removed and then....2 months after symptoms showed it finally rose. Best of luck with your battle. I hope and pray that you continue to do well.

    So Very Sorry
    I'm so very sorry that you lost your mother. I am certain that you did everything possible to support her and help her through her several setbacks. She has her angel wings now and can watch over you in peace and comfort. May God comfort you and hold you especially tight!
    Love and hugs, Carol

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