CA 125

What is considered high for recurrent ovarian cancer on the CA 125 test?  I have been taking Gemzar (6 cycles) and the highest my CA 125 got was 109 and the lowest was 83.  Right before the 6th cycle it was 106.

[jlock]

I don't know what is high for recurrent ovca.  We are all different.  I have had 3 recurrences and so far each number was different.  The first one was 83,the 2nd time it was 54..and this time it's only 13.9.  So who knows  My onc will treat based on scan reports...as so many of us have different levels of sensitivity with the ca-125. For me my ca-125 isn't very sensitive,so when my numbers go up I have something coming on.  It looks like your numbers have never been down to the normal...so I'm not sure what a Onc will do it this case.  Good luck~~~~Joanne

[Janet535]

Hi Trisha,

I have recurrent ovarain cancer and when i started on this journey and my onco explained about the CA 125 count I asked him what is considered normal for a person in my postition and he said that it varies from person to person but the aim is to get it as low as possible and keep it low. But the CA 125 count isn't always the best indicator for some people, the scans are sometimes a better indicator, comparing the messurable mass at start of treatment and doing regular scans through out the treatment to compare noticeable differences.

I've had 13 treatments to date, 3 x carbo/taxol but had to change as it wasn't working, I'm currently on a clinical trial and had 10 with my next one next week. The lowest my CA 125 has gotten todate is 94 and as it has been a steady decrease (only one rise during this current regime).

My understanding is that it's unlikely that with recurrent OvCa the CA 125 will go as low as 0.5 - 35 which is considered "normal range" when one goes into remission. But then again, we are all different, so your onco may feel you will achieve lower numbers. I have mixed feelings about knowing what my count is, sometimes I feel I get fixated on them and then disappointed when they haven't gone down to what I think they should have and that just adds added pressure, if you know what i mean.

I hope your treatments continue to go well for you and your not having to many side effects. Kindest regards....Janet

[crecco]

I also suffer from recurrent ovarian cancer. I was dx in Nov 2005 and have yet to have a reading at the normal level, and have been told that I probably never will. At the current time I am on my 6th chemo regime. I switch as needed when I experience 3 consectutive rises in my CA. Your numbers are still fairly low so your Dr may want to try another chemo or wait and see if it goes back down. It is really hard to say as many Drs have a somewhat difference of opinion. Just try not to get yourself in a panic. Wait and see what the next check brings and in the mean time this is something you might want to discuss with your Dr when you see him next.
    Chris

[JC145]

I totally agree with the above.  In my case, the 6 rounds of Cisplatin/taxol drove my number down to 8, but 2 months later it was back up to 17 and continued to rise to 104, but with no evidence of disease (NED) showing on the PET/CT scan.  So,my MD put me on tamoxifen and my # went back down to 20 in about 6 months time.  It has started rising as of January of this year and is presently at 72.  In May, the PET/CT showed a very small lymph node near my liver .. in Sept. the lymph node had not changed .. so we are just wating and watching for a change on a scan.  I asked him if he add a set # for when we will absolutely need to do heavy chemo (still on tamoxifen) and he said "no". I think the CA is a good indicator in my case .. but each of us are different even with the same disease.  That's probably why a "cure" is so hard to find.  Judy