CA 125 Numbers

[sfbigelow]

My  wife was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer and when the doctor came out of surgury he said also Ovarian Cancer.  The uterine was stage 1.  The ovarian Stage 4.  She had the total hysterectomy and followed up by 1 1/2 years of chemo.  Fo the past two years her CA 125 has been 6.  In May it went up to 13 and now is 26.  Does anyone have any experiance with this doubling.

Thank you

[jane65]

Hi,
I'm very sorry for your wife's diagnoses, I know it was a terrible shock for her and for you, and a difficult time during the chemo treatments..

As another OVCA, stage 4 epithelial cancer patient with metastases to the lymph nodes, I agree with everything Gail wrote you.
I'm going through the same predicament, my CA125 in March was 10.9 and now it's 28, which is almost tripled.

My oncologist also said that there are microscopic cancer cells which must be dealt with even though my last scan was clear. I'll probably be starting chemo for the 3rd time next month.
Please take Gail's words seriously, and follow up with another visit with your wife, and her oncologist, I'm sure he'll want to do a scan. It's so frightening, but we only get one chance to get it right.

I wish your wife the best of luck, and please feel comfortable to come on the forum any time you or she want to talk, or ask questions.
Jane

[gah_70]

Not to alarm you, but I'm sure you know the risks of her cancer recurring.  I assume she is still being monitored by her doctor since you have CA 125 results.  What is her doctor saying?  Has she had any scans recently?  Of course I am no expert, but when the CA 125 doubles or triples, I think most doctors would want to start chemo again, even if a CT scan shows nothing.  They are not 100% accurate, and it's possible any cancer cells that might be present are so microscopic, they cannot be picked up in a scan.  The good news is that if nothing shows up, you know there are not any tumors.  Do you know the type of cancer she had (epitheilial papillary, MMMT, clear cell, etc.)?  Low grade, or high grade?  

Sending you lots of good wishes that this is just a fluke, and hopefully not a return of her cancer.

Gail