Explosive rise in CA 125

My wife completed a 6-week regimen of chemotherapy on 2/13/2009.  During the process, her CA-125 went from a high of 76.5 (10/3/2008) to 10.3 (2,13/2009), then down to 5.1 (5/11/2009), 5.4 (8/5/2009), then it started to climb slowly: 5.6 (11/4/2009), 10.2 (2/3/2010).  Then, in five days, it shot up to 204 (2/8/2010).  I realize there are lots of variables that affect the interpretation of CA 125.  However, in some people, CA 125 does seem to be a valid expression of the level of disease.  It seems impossible to me that the level of disease could increase twenty-fold in any person over a 5 day period.  One possibility is that the test was performed incorrectly.  But may be not.  Has anyone had any experience like this?  (I hope not.)

[gah_70]

You are correct that a CA125 is not a valid indicator for some people.  The CA125 measures a protein secreted by ovarian cancer cells.  But other things in the body also make and secrete this protein, and can therefore alter the reading.  There is nothing absolute about it.  That's why the medical community does not typically look at just one reading, rather the trend.  But, you are right that a jump that large seems improbable..but I will hesitate to say impossible, because I simply don't know.  If she has been sick with an upset stomach, or any kind of illness with her lungs such as bronchitis or cough of any kind, it could have affected it.  My doctor, who is male, used the analogy one time that if one of the nurses came in and shook him up and down really hard, HE'D probably have a high reading.  

What's your wife's doctor's next plan of action?  I would think a CT scan would be in the works, as well as another CA125 and possibly a PET scan.  Whether the test result was valid or not, it's important to get to the bottom of it.  I hope this is just a fluke.  Please come back and let us know how everything turns out.

Gail