CA 125 TEST

[carly1999]

Hello,
My doctor has just orderd a ca 125 test today due to recent symptoms (bloating, pain in pelvis etc).  Only 6 months ago I had a transvaginal and regular pelvic ultrasound which were fine.  I also had the same tests 6 months prior which were normal.  I am 32 with two children.  i have read much today on the ca 125 and seee that their are many false positives.  I am literally scared out of my mind.  She said it was for my piece of mind...how true are the results of the ca 125?  Should I be concerned?

[dave79]

Carly,

  It is a good sign that your ultrasounds were normal about 6 months ago, this should ease your mind.  The symptoms you described (bloating and pelvic pain) are seen in late stages of ovarian cancer, but since your ultrasounds were normal, it is highly unlikely that your symptoms are due to ovarian cancer.  It would not progress so quickly.  
  There are many types of ovarian cancers,and different types are more common at certain ages.  For the most part, ovarian malignancies are seen in women who are older than 45.  Some of these cancers make CA-125 and some don't.  The epithelial cancers make CA-125, but it is not elevated in 50% of women with Stage I cancer.  So it is really not a good test for deciding if someone has an early cancer, but it will show late stage cancers.  Also, there are many things other than cancer that will elevate CA-125 levels.  
  Again, it is unlikely that you have cancer if your ultrasounds were normal 6 months ago.  Your symptoms are probably due to something else.  Keep track of when your pain starts, what makes it better and what makes it worse.  Does your pain come and go, or is it constant.  Is your pain localized to one area, or is it all over.  Does your pain go away after you pass gas?  These are all things you should tell your doctor, so that he/she will have more information to put it all together.  If you have any questions please e-mail me, and I'll be happy to answer.