CA-125-what is considered normal or high?

[asuprpixie]

I am looking over all of my paperwork from my last surgery and I noticed the CA-125 is 190.  Is that considered normal, high, or low?  I will be having my hysterectomy tomorrow morning so I won't be online for awhile.  God bless you all!

[dian07]

Different tests have different "normals".....however, you are premenopausal and those tests aren't always a good indicator for women your age. I certainly hope you are having a gyn/oncologist perform your surgery...YOU HAVE ONLY ONE CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME......it is of the utmost importance you have a gyn/oncologist as your surgeon.  Please come back and let us know how things are going when you are able.  It will be so much better on the other side of your surgery.
Peace.
dian

[Kathy70]

190 is high.....but you're dx w/ ovca....so it will be high.  After your surgery, you watch that # drop!!!  GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!

[onniebay]

Sending prayers your way for your surgery!

[Kathy70]

What do you mean 'You have only one chance to get it right"?  Are you referring to the debulking?  I've read another post here where someone had typed that also.....and since I just had surgery...I'm very interested!!  Is it really known that the better debulking...the less chance of recurrence?  I sure hope so....I had a great surgeon, so this would be good news for me....?
K

[Mags711]

From what I understand your CA125 is specific to you.  You can't compare it to others.  CA125 measures not only a protein on the surface of cancer cells, but also is an indicator of abdominal inflammation, one of the reasons that drs don't use it as a single indicator for female cancers.  

For example, my CA125 was at about 800 at my diagnosis in July 2007.  It dropped drastically (to 15 in February) with my carbo/taxol treatments (eight of them), but now with recurrence it has gone from about 550 to 950 and will rise again before the chemo I am now receiving starts to change it.  Keep track of your own numbers, talk to your doctor, your chemo nurse and continue to ask questions, but try not to put too much weight on the 'number'.   Focus on your overall health, keep your body and mind healthy as you recover.  

I agree with others regarding having a gynelogical surgeon doing the surgery, this is their 'job' after all.
Maggie

[lucymullis]

Don't let how high it is freak you out.  Everyone's numbers are different.  It's more impt. that it goes down with chemo.  I keep a chart.

Also, yes studies have shown that the debulking is one of the major factors that results in increased survival.

[Jan214]

Yes, the debulking is the most important part.  A great surgeon leaves you with less scar tissue, (that can cause big complications) and he gets everything out.  Also, with my surgeon he had to get out an 11 and a 14 cm cyst without breaking them and that takes extra skill.  I was lucky, it was all inside.  So, if you feel like you had a great surgeon than I am so glad for you.  It really makes all the difference in the world.  LIke Dian said, one chance, because the last thing you want is to have to have more surgeries than necessary.  
You should see that number come down drastically after the surgery.  However, it doesn't work for everyone.  For me it is an excellent indicator, but my friend Camille has never changed from 3.  They found hers by accident when they were fixing something else.  Wait and see how yours does a couple of times and than you will know.
Good luck to you tomorrow.
Jan

[jlock]

As stated above everyone has a different ca-125. With you being pre-menapausal it can really make a difference.  I know of a gal who's ca-125 was 4000 and came out of surgery a stage 1c.  My ca-125 was 204 and I was dx. stage 3c and also colon cancer.  The important thing is that it will go down.  not directly after your surgery as you will have inflammation from the surgery.  Also it has been studied and concluded that using a onc/gyn will increase your chances for survival.  Of course with every study there is the exception to the rule...but for the most part you have a better chance with a onc/gyn.  Good luck on your surgery,please keep us posted..~~~Joanne