CA125 decreased just a little

[glu_2002]

Hey, my mother got ovarian epithelial cancer staging IC. She got the surgury and then chemo after 7 days with TP plan. Her CA125 before surgury was 199.3 and after first chemo it decreased only to 168.8. The doctor is giving her the second Chemo. It seems to me that her CA125 did not decrease a lot after the surgury and the first chemo, which is really disappointing to me. Is this normal? or we need to change the chemo plan? Thanks

[glu_2002]

Thanks for your information. It is really good to hear that you are recovering very well. All of my family members have strong confidence that my mother can fight against this disease. You are right, my mother has the high blood pressure. maybe that is one of the reasons too. Take care.

[tigger44]

hi - I have had massive malignant ovarian cyst removed, and I am in my 4th session of chemo - before the surgery my CA-125 was 1149! After the surgery it dropped to 161, and now after the 4th chemo it is within the norms, which are 0 - 35. But I had what is known as an Salpingo-oophorectomy plus a Hysterectomy, so everything including my omentum were removed. [the cyst had burst and started to spread there & onto my bowel]

I was told that the rate the CA-125 decreases can be slow, especially if there are any remaining cancer cells anywhere, as they are being broken up by the chemo, and then they travel through the blood stream, elevating the CA-125. Also, the CA-125 can go up and down, as it is affected by other things like high blood pressure. I ask lots and lots of questions of my oncologist - that's what they are there for - I am sure he/she will be able to explain this to you and reassure you.

My WBC has also dropped radically, as have my nuetros, that seems to happen to everyone, and they simply delay the next session until you are up again. I am 46 and I am on Carbo and Taxol [goodbye hair!], so maybe it affects it differently, I don't know.

And I wish your Mum the very best. Tell her to hang in there, and grill the oncologist. It's reassuring to have as much info from them as possible - the internet has a lot of 'scare' stories which can be pretty stressful, and each person reacts totally differently to their treatment.

[glu_2002]

sorry, typy about your name.

[glu_2002]

Thanks white for your reply. My mother is receiving Carboplatin/Docetaxel (400mg/100mg per three weeks) chemotherapy. right now, she is in the second treatment. She is only 52 years old, and used to be very healthy. The white count decreased after first chemo to 4.1 and returned to 9.8 before the second chemo. Every analysis is around normal but the CA125 because it did not decrease a lot.

[withe]

You did not mention what type of chemo your mother is receiving. Different chemos take
time to react, be patient, 30 pts after the first round is something to be encouraged about.
Hang in there. Withe