Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Ovarian Cancer (Expert Forum)
CA-125 of 23
Answered by
Annekathryn Goodman, M.D. - Gynecologic Cancers, Complex Gynecologic, Surgeries, Palliative Care, Acupuncture
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Boston - MA
This forum is for questions and support regarding ovarian cancer issues, such as: Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Clinical Trials, Genetics, Hysterectomy,Immunotherapy, Ovarian Cancer Types, Radiation Therapy, Risk Factors, Screening, Staging, Surgery.
CA-125 of 23
by purrrkat, Feb 12, 2007 12:00AM
Hello,
I am a healthy 40-year-old with relatively regular menstrual cycles and no apparent symptoms. My OB/Gyn performs routine ultrasounds (yearly) due to elevated risk for ovarian cancer (mother died of breast cancer at 55).
I had my first CA-125 test a few months back, and the blood was drawn just at the end of my period, when supposedly it would be at its lowest. The result was 23. My doctor told me that had I had the test a year ago, it would have been considered normal, because "normal" was 35 or less. But apparenly "normal" is now 20. So mine is considered elevated.
The ultrasound was basically normal, other than what she perceived to be a folicular cyst, but she said that early ovarian cancer could present as looking like a folicular cyst on an ultrasound. So, she has recommended a repeat CA-125 test at a 6-month interval.
Obviously, I'm going to do what she says and repeat the test, but am very nervous. Is a result of 23 in a premenopausal woman who just completed her period something to be alarmed about, and, in your experience, do early ovarian cancers look like folicular cysts?
Thanks. I'm going to stop wringing my hands and go get some blood drawn soon, but I wanted to get some more information in the meantime.
I am a healthy 40-year-old with relatively regular menstrual cycles and no apparent symptoms. My OB/Gyn performs routine ultrasounds (yearly) due to elevated risk for ovarian cancer (mother died of breast cancer at 55).
I had my first CA-125 test a few months back, and the blood was drawn just at the end of my period, when supposedly it would be at its lowest. The result was 23. My doctor told me that had I had the test a year ago, it would have been considered normal, because "normal" was 35 or less. But apparenly "normal" is now 20. So mine is considered elevated.
The ultrasound was basically normal, other than what she perceived to be a folicular cyst, but she said that early ovarian cancer could present as looking like a folicular cyst on an ultrasound. So, she has recommended a repeat CA-125 test at a 6-month interval.
Obviously, I'm going to do what she says and repeat the test, but am very nervous. Is a result of 23 in a premenopausal woman who just completed her period something to be alarmed about, and, in your experience, do early ovarian cancers look like folicular cysts?
Thanks. I'm going to stop wringing my hands and go get some blood drawn soon, but I wanted to get some more information in the meantime.
Doctor's Answer
by Annekathryn Goodman, M.D., Feb 14, 2007 12:00AM
, Feb 14, 2007 12:00AM
