BELEIVER OF EARLY DETECTION

[SYBIL'S MOM]

WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT THE CA125 DOESN'T SHOW ELEVATED? AFTER SEVERAL YEARS SCARED OF RECURRENCE.HELP

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Dear Sybil's Mom,
For a person who has had cancer. And if the cancer was associated with an elevated CA 125, then the Ca 125 is the most sensitive test for recurrence. If the ca 125 is in the normal range, that is very reassuring.
best wishes

[SYBIL'S MOM]

MY CA125 LEVEL WAS NEVER ELEVATED EVEN RIGHT BEFORE MY HYSTERECTOMY. THAT IS WHY I'M CONCERNED NOW. I HAVE SAME SYMPTOMS AS I HAD BEFORE WHEN THEY WERE NOT ELEVATED AND HAD OVARIAN CANCER. I WAS NOT EXPECTING ANYTHING EXCEPT A HYSTERECTOMY AS WELL AS MY GYN

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi there,
if you think something's going on, you should see your doctor, get a  CT scan, even undergo a laparoscopy to take a look
best wishes

[larad]

I only know this from my 2 friends that are ovca survivors - 1 had elevated ca125 from the get go and follows the marker routinely. My other friend did not have an elevated ca125 initially, but after her recurrence 2 years later, the tumor marker is elevated. That's the difficult thing about this disease..it can change how it acts.  My friend keeps a journal of how she feels from day to day along with her medications, etc.  You know your body better than anyone else...remember that!  Take action if you feel you need to..it's better to be safe!