Ca125

[mudgett]

My mom was diagnosed the beginning of sept with stage 4 ovarian cancer.At that time her Ca125 was 4700 she has been on chemo since her diagnosis and just had her ca125 drawn and it is now 113.Is it common for it to come down so quickly.I am thrilled that it has come down and the only thing that I can think of is that this has to be good news....?

[Jan214]

Did she have surgery first or just chemo.  Well, either way it is a good sign.  Mine was 585 at diagnosis and 92 after surgery.  It went down to 8.5 with all 6 treatments, but it came back up quickly, 4 mths.  Looking back I don't know if I would have asked my onc to do 2 more chemos, because it is just so awful, but I probably should have.  I didn't know than that I could direct my own treatment.  You are so numb you just kind of go along. Asking for more chemo is really perspective: whether you are the patient or the caregiver.  Caregivers tend to encourage more chemo while us patients just want a break from feeling so awful.  However, more chemo is probably best.  I do think you need a few months in between chemo regimens to get your strength back because the body just can't take all that constant poison.  We will hope that this does the trick for your mom and that she won't need any more.

[marie3B]

I would take the fast , huge drop in Ca125 as a good sign that the response to chemo is great.  I hope things continue to go well. Marie

[JC145]

Great news .. hope the count stays down.  I had chemo from 7/06 to 11/06 .. my CA has been going up and down.  For over a year I have been on tamoxifen 10 mg twice a day and it seems to be doing the job.  Just watch her #'s and be sure to have a PET/CT when she finishes chemo to be sure all is clear.  Wishing you luck and God's blessings, Judy

[vegas2cr]

I agree with Sharon.... I have stage IV and I am 18 months since diagnosis and feeling good... my last chemo was 14 months ago.. I had chemo and then surgery...I hope the numbers keep dropping.. ,Ronni

[bohan54]

Take whatever good news you can get with this beast!!  Your mom is responding to treatment and that is great.  Hoping it continues for her,
Sharon

[Janet535]

I'm not sure how common it is for a CA 125 count to drop so drasticly in such a short period of time but I would certainly take it as a good sign.

For many of us, the CA 125 count is a good indicator of how well the treatment is working for us. Perhaps thats a question you can ask the oncologist at your mothers next appointment.

Wishing you and your Mother all the best and I hope her numbers keep dropping!

[SimplyStar]

If the counts stay low, and your  Mom and your Aunt can Tolerate it, I would ask if they could conintue on with the chemo combo  for 8  instead of stopping at 6.  Also if their condition still warrents it, I would not take a break , I would switch to another chemo drug ASAP, because the recurrance rate is so high, I would like to see  it warded off if possible. Continue fighting the cells and killing them.  This is where you take control and tell the onocologists what you want to do.  The cells will grow , while your body is on a break,  If a break is needed to gain strength, make it as short as possible.  Some cancer cells are slow growing and others are fast, I would not take the chance.  It is kinda like the anti biotic that they give you for 10 days, you feel well in 5 or 6  and stop taking them.  With cancer cells , many are immature and are really hard to kill, it only takes 1  left in there to start dividing,  Switching chemos is usually what they do, but I believe it is the breaks that perpatrate the growth.  I am not an Onocologist, just someone that has learned over time what might be the right answer.   Marty

[sobermommy]

Hi...my aunt just recently had her surgery and began chemo for stage 4 as well. My mom just told me today that her score dropped from around 400 to 18. I didn't know what to think either but I am choosing to believe it is a good thing. I hope all works out for your mom too. You are both in my thoughs and prayers. God bless...Lynn

[Angie_Lou]

Not sure how common it is in that short period of time, but mine dropped considerable between my first and fourth Chemo.  It is a good sign!  I hope it continues in that direction for your mom.

My best to the both of you.  Angie