CA125

howdybooth
howdybooth Member Posts: 42
edited March 2014 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
So, my sister completed her chemo treatments at the end of April and had a CT scan on May 26 - all clear - no sign of cancer! For the last two months her CA125 levels have been at 15 - this week it has shot up to 38.4! Her gyn/onc has ordered another CT Scan for next Tuesday.....how worried should we be?

History:
January 2009 - First diagnosed with Stage 1b - Grade 2 (not UPSC) and had the robotic surgery - clear wash - clear nodes. No chemo or rad ordered

June 2009 - Cancer reoccurrence on the vaginal cuff - received radiation treatment

November 2009 – PET scan - small tumor on the liver

January 2010 – Tumor on the liver burned off – chemo treatment started

May 2010 – CT scan – all clear – CA125 at 15

June 2010 – CA125 at 15

July 8 – CA125 at 38.5

I’ve told her not to worry, but I’ve been reading that once cancer shows up in places like the liver all treatment is to prolong life and not curative! Just every sad and scared for her……

Comments

  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #2
    Hold up on the worry...
    All I can say is to see what the scans and tests present. Worrying is not going to change anything.

    I recently had a recurrence of UPSC when my CA125 went over 40. PET showed a lone lymph node which was removed surgically. I'm in a wait and watch mode for now. I AM following a strict anti-cancer diet and exercise regime. Maybe that's something she can do to give her the sense of DOING SOMETHING and having some control. It has helped me both psychologically and physically (lost some weight that needed to come off!!).

    My best wishes and prayers. Mary Ann
  • howdybooth
    howdybooth Member Posts: 42
    #3
    daisy366 said:

    Hold up on the worry...
    All I can say is to see what the scans and tests present. Worrying is not going to change anything.

    I recently had a recurrence of UPSC when my CA125 went over 40. PET showed a lone lymph node which was removed surgically. I'm in a wait and watch mode for now. I AM following a strict anti-cancer diet and exercise regime. Maybe that's something she can do to give her the sense of DOING SOMETHING and having some control. It has helped me both psychologically and physically (lost some weight that needed to come off!!).

    My best wishes and prayers. Mary Ann

    Thank you.......I'll talk to
    Thank you.......I'll talk to her about trying something proactive! She is a VERY private person - can't get her to join this site. She is very much a "head in the sand" type of person. She us still struggling with weakness and neuropathy has trouble falling from time to time. But she is feeling better, but emotionally, this has knocked her down!
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #4
    howdybooth said:

    Thank you.......I'll talk to
    Thank you.......I'll talk to her about trying something proactive! She is a VERY private person - can't get her to join this site. She is very much a "head in the sand" type of person. She us still struggling with weakness and neuropathy has trouble falling from time to time. But she is feeling better, but emotionally, this has knocked her down!

    My Ca 125 has continued to rise since I finished my chemo
    I finished chemo and radiation 8/09. My Ca -125 went as low as 14 during treatments. My first check -up my CA 125 went up to 39. I have had it checked every 6- 8 weeks. If it elevated more I had a CAT scan. Now since my CA 125 continues to rise each time, I get the CAT scan the same time I get my lab.( My numbers have been 39.9, recheck 42.2, 55, 77.7, 119, 140, 261.6) My last CA 125 was 261. However my onocologist says he treats the CAT scan and not the CA -125., unless one has symptoms, which I have not had any symptoms. He said that some people stabilize in the 200's. That's what I am hoping for.....a stabilization of the CA 125 and a negative CAT scan.

    So I would wait until the results of the CAT scan is known to worry. I know from personal experience, that is easier said than done. I hope she can take Mary Ann's advice and become pro-active - eat healthy and do some walking if possible. She is lucky to have you for support. In peace and caring.
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #5
    Ro10 said:

    My Ca 125 has continued to rise since I finished my chemo
    I finished chemo and radiation 8/09. My Ca -125 went as low as 14 during treatments. My first check -up my CA 125 went up to 39. I have had it checked every 6- 8 weeks. If it elevated more I had a CAT scan. Now since my CA 125 continues to rise each time, I get the CAT scan the same time I get my lab.( My numbers have been 39.9, recheck 42.2, 55, 77.7, 119, 140, 261.6) My last CA 125 was 261. However my onocologist says he treats the CAT scan and not the CA -125., unless one has symptoms, which I have not had any symptoms. He said that some people stabilize in the 200's. That's what I am hoping for.....a stabilization of the CA 125 and a negative CAT scan.

    So I would wait until the results of the CAT scan is known to worry. I know from personal experience, that is easier said than done. I hope she can take Mary Ann's advice and become pro-active - eat healthy and do some walking if possible. She is lucky to have you for support. In peace and caring.

    head in the sand
    Howdybooth,

    I hear you. Here' my 2 cents...

    In the end each person is responsible for his/her own decisions and life. Once we have done all we can - like you are doing now - then for our health, we need to step back and allow the other person to be who they want to be. Sometimes people get "stuck" and there's nothing another can do.

    Take care of yourself!! Mary Ann

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