I just got some news I'm upset about

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kikz
kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
in Ovarian Cancer #1
A dear friend called me to ask what the normal range for CA 125 is. Last week she went in for a biopsy for a growth or (?) in her uterus and she requested a CA 125 largely because of me. She told me tonight that her result is 29. I told her that anything less than 35 is in the normal range. She has to go back for another biopsy because something didn't go right with the first one. She felt reassured when I told her the range but I have been upset since I spoke with her. Isn't 29 high if everything is okay?

Karen

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  • wanttogetwellsoon
    wanttogetwellsoon Member Posts: 147
    #2
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    ca125
    CA125 results can be very misleading. They can show a false high because other conditions can raise it. However, it can show a false low too. I have advanced cancer and my CA125 level was 9 when I was diagnosed. It's used by doctors to track particular people so, for example, if a patient's CA125 is 35 and then goes up to 200, that could be an indication that things aren't right. On the other hand, the move up may simply be due to other benign conditions. If I were you, I wouldn't worry although I know it's hard not to. At least your friend is being checked out. That's my advice for what it's worth.
  • Mum2bellaandwilliam
    Mum2bellaandwilliam Member Posts: 412
    #3
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    wanttogetwellsoon said:

    ca125
    CA125 results can be very misleading. They can show a false high because other conditions can raise it. However, it can show a false low too. I have advanced cancer and my CA125 level was 9 when I was diagnosed. It's used by doctors to track particular people so, for example, if a patient's CA125 is 35 and then goes up to 200, that could be an indication that things aren't right. On the other hand, the move up may simply be due to other benign conditions. If I were you, I wouldn't worry although I know it's hard not to. At least your friend is being checked out. That's my advice for what it's worth.

    Try not to worry, it is
    Try not to worry, it is still within normal range, and at least your friend is being checked out.I also believe it can be elevated a little for other reasons not cancer related.
    Good luck to your friend , let us know how she gets on xxxx Liz.
  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    #4
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    so hard to wait for results, but
    I agree that CA-125s can be misleading. I'm afraid you'll have to wait to hear, but she could just have a large fibroid in her uterus. Best of luck to her and try to hang tough.
    (((HUGS))) Maria
  • poopergirl14052
    poopergirl14052 Member Posts: 1,183 Member
    #5
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    Mwee said:

    so hard to wait for results, but
    I agree that CA-125s can be misleading. I'm afraid you'll have to wait to hear, but she could just have a large fibroid in her uterus. Best of luck to her and try to hang tough.
    (((HUGS))) Maria

    symtoms??
    does your friend have some bloating or pelvic pain? I also have a friend with a large tumor in her uterus and ca=125 is 29. She was very upset so she went to see a gyn/onc to rule out ovca. He told her it is an imflamation and sent her for s scan. She will have surgery soon but is wasn't cancer. Have your friend think positive and I pray your friend is cancer free..val
  • LaundryQueen
    LaundryQueen Member Posts: 676
    #6
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    poopergirl14052 said:

    symtoms??
    does your friend have some bloating or pelvic pain? I also have a friend with a large tumor in her uterus and ca=125 is 29. She was very upset so she went to see a gyn/onc to rule out ovca. He told her it is an imflamation and sent her for s scan. She will have surgery soon but is wasn't cancer. Have your friend think positive and I pray your friend is cancer free..val

    Screening for OVCA
    The latest thinking is that it may be helpful to watch for an upward trend in the CA-125 by doing serial testing in high risk women and then do the transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) to try to catch an ovarian cancer in the early stages.

    Has anyone heard of the big study that was done trying to see if it was worthwhile to screen women annually with CA-125 and TVUS? I can't remember all the details but it seemed like the overall long-term survival in those who were found to have OVCA was pretty much the same as women who weren't screened. Which is to say the treatment for the disease is sadly indadequate...to say the least.

    LQ

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