RIsing CA125 CT Clear

Doc,

Just curious about this one.  Once first line chemo has been completed with succesful results and CT scan is clear and CA125 is less than 35 and stable.

If during the following months the CA125 level is increased but the CT scan shows nothing -  If an oncologist recommends further chemo basing this recommendation on simply a CA125 level increase is this a valid recommendation.

Ie what i mean is if ca125 is increasing and CT scan is clear should a patient return to a further regime of chemo purely based on a rising CA125 but clear CT...

[Derek S]

Thank you for the quick reply as usual!

My only concern is that everyone has a different "Normal" CA125 for them it maybe 50 it maybe 80 it maybe 5.

Obviously with a patient we usually do not know what their normal level was before the diagnosis of cancer as is our case.

If my wifes normal CA125 is say 80 and her new ca125 after chemo is 35 surely over time her 125 trend will be back to her normal healthy value of 80.

Now will this trend to an oncologist from 35 to 80 that there is active cancer or is the body just returning to its normal ca125 range...

This is a major dilema for me and i think shows the limit of the ca125 test although it has its uses.

With a clear CT and rising CA125 is it better just to scan say once a month until something is shown then start the chemo all over again.

Many thanks.