Rising CA125 After Hysterectomy?

Hi there. My mom was diagnosed with stage III Ovarian cancer a while back. At diagnosis her CA125 was 3430 (she is post menapause aged 49) We underwent a complete hysterectomy at Liverpool hospital Sydney.

After the hysterectomy was done a CA125 reading of 1170 was recorded.

However, after another 2 weeks, prior to her admission to chemotherapy a CA125 was taken with the reading at 1710 (6th July 2007).

She only yesterday went for her first Chemo session of Taxol and Carboplatin and everything seems fine, she doesnt seem tired, vno omitting, nothing out of ordinary everything looks good.

HOwever, she took another CA125 reading today, and the CA125 is 1910.

That is a increase in CA125 of almost 200 in a week. I am deeply concerned and worried and would appreciate any help at all.

I understand that the chemo might take a while to come into affect, but despite that, the huge increases in CA125 is a huge worry. Is there anybody out there who would be able to comment on my moms condition? I am very depressed and worried as I can't do anything...

Regards
Jeremy

[ahoskrn]

Hi, I am an RN who works on a GYN/Oncology unit at the hospital. About 50 percent of my patients are Ovarian Cancer patients. I can tell you only what I know from experience and cannot diagnose or tell you specifically in your moms case. A rising CA125 level is a good predictor of tumor spread, however it is not an absolute. I would give the chemo time to work and see what future CA125 levels show. The best thing you can do for your mom is to have a positive and hopeful outlook as best you can as studies have shown cancer patients who remain hopeful tend to respond better to treatments. Give it some time. I know you feel like you cant help, but you can by being there for mom.
Good luck to you.
My best,
Angela

[gah_70]

Everyone responds differently to chemo, so no two situations will be the same.  In my case, however, it took three Taxol/Carbo treatments to see any significant change in my CA125.  By the fifth treatment, my numbers were in he normal range.  Does your mom have ascites present?  I found that as the chemo dried up the fluid, it also helped with my numbers.  I am sure it all goes hand in hand.  

It is understandable that you are worried.  Nothing about this is pleasant.  Allow yourself to be sad about it...take some time to do what you have to do to let out your sorrow.  But then, move on, and be there for your mom.  Go on this journey with her, and realize that this IS a treatable disease.  Best wishes to you both, and God bless.  

Gail

[Conquerer]

Jeremy,  my doctor didn't check my ca 125 intil two rounds,  surgery the cancer can all give numbers that are not correct give it time.  It also shouldn't be tested weeklu  it will only make you crazey.  give the drugs time to work  good luck

[jay3ho]

THankyou all for your comments.

In response to your questions, I think when she had the hysterectomy done the doctor said he took out all the cancer cells which could be seen with the naked eye, as well as taking out the entire ovary organs.

But what my main question is, usually after a doctor completes an operation and says he took out most of the cancel cells visible to the naked eye, wouldnt that mean the CA125 SHOULD drop large levels. And my main concern is, the speed at which the CA125 levels are increasing day by day? as you can imagine is very dishearttening.

Thanks again all

Jeremy

[rmarie]

I am a person who's CA 125 only goes up after surgery.  I had a normal CA 125 before diagnosis an with my recurrance.  The test is a non-specific riser and can go up with inflammation with surgery is, chemo is also an irritant.  I would ask the Dr. and if they aren't worried, I wouldn't be concerned yet.  However if it doesn't come down they may switch the drugs she is on.  This disease and treatment is an interesting ride, good luck to your mom.

[stankwake]

Here's some hope.  MY wife was 49 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer.  The Dr. said maybe 4 years.  She has had NO remission.  Over 230 chemo treatments with 14 different drugs.  She had to stop all chemo 3 years ago (could not take it any longer).  She has now completed 20 doses of Avastin and currently has a CA125 of 2,550.  No visible tumors on CT.
She will celebrate surviving 11 years.  Get a good oncologist is important.
Hers is Saul Rivkin in Seattle.
Good luck

[Bob73]

In 2006 my wife was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She had surgery followed by
taxol and carboplaten chemo.  In addition we got permission from her oncologist to use
butylated hydroxytoulen (BHT) [adjuvant therapy?] in the role as an anti-viral.

I can't claim that the BHT had any thing to do with it, but her CA125 levels dropped off the
fastest the oncologist had ever seen.

Please see "BHT as a Possible Chemical for Combatting Ovarian Cancer"
http://www.datasync.com/~rsf1/bht-v-oc.htm

[Jan214]

I am very sorry your wife has this and it is nice that you are so supportive.  I went to the site you attached and read up until this part:

At this writing, the cause of ovarian cancer is unknown, but I'm betting it's one of those human papillomavirus (HPV) baddies. If it is, then sexual partners could be part of the ovarian cancer equation. With that dark possibility in mind, this author finds it sobering to know that, at present, there is no HPV test for males.

That is the most outrageously insulting thing I have ever read.  I don't know who wrote that but he should be shot.  My mother died of this when she was 38 and the only sexual partners my parents had were each other.  Most of the women who have OVCA are elderly and a good many of them were virgins when they got married.  Does this guy really want to tell these women that they got cancer from a cheating husband.  What a jerk!!
Perhaps you could find a better site on BHT to refer people to.
Good luck to you and your wife
Jan

[Bob73]

I am the guy who wrote that idea about HPV. I am sorry that you are offended by it.
Bob/Jerk

[SusiefromOZ]

Bob the HPV virus is connected to Cervical Cancer and not as far as i have read or heard anywhere to Ovarian Cancer. A simple mistake. I am sure you didn't mean any offence to anybody.

Susie

[Jan214]

Dear Bob,

It did not sit well with me, but I should have thought about my words before I wrote them in anger.  

While there is no test for HPV in men it seems as if the same precautions should be taken as with
any other STD.  If you aren't putting it where it shouldn't be than you don't have a problem according to the article I found.

"Most men who get HPV (of any type) never develop any symptoms or health problems. But some types of HPV can cause genital warts. Other types can cause penile cancer or anal cancer. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can cause penile or anal cancer."

http://www.cdc.gov/STD/hpv/STDFact-HPV-and-men.htm#what
Jan

[Bob73]

Susie:  Thanks, but I was aware of the HPVs connection to cervical cancer.  I was speculating that one of them may eventually be found to have a causal role with ovarian cancer. Since it is NOT known what causes ovarian cancer I don't think the medical profession should turn a systematic blind eye on HPVs.


Jan214: Thanks for your followup comments but it seems to me that you are putting all the potential "mis-behavior" blame on husbands. I married (again) at age 52 and but been sexually active before I got "recaptured." My wife says she had also been sexually active in the years before we met.  Best I can tell, either one of us might have encountered a non-obvious HPV (or maybe something totally different) back along the way. I don't know if civil health authorities check couples getting marriage licenses for HPVs.

I did remove the offending section on my webpage.  

[Mary 53]

Just my two cents. I was one step away from Cervical cancer in 1997. Frankly the doctor was stunned when she found Severe Cervical Dysplasia (and I was great about getting yearly paps). My first question was, "Is this HPV"?  The answer was...."No"......The doctors were baffled.

Two years later a cyst on my ovary was removed during a laparoscopy. Malignant cells were found according to the Pathologist.

In my case, hormonal imbalance is thought to be the cause of my problems. A theory, but a sound one that I have tried to study up on since then as I try to get a better grasp of the role that hormones play in the lives of women (particularly Estrogen dominance occuring when Progesterone levels are low). I am now trying to understand the problems men encounter if/when their hormones fluctuate (meaning my spouse is now having hormonal issues...).

Mary