CA 125 info please!

[karol0405]

I am searching for info on the CA125...written in 'English' please!  I'm trying to find out ranges and just how much I should be worried.

I have a 7cm tumor on/in an ovary.  Ultrasound and CT show it appears solid.  I have all the digestive, lack of energy, pain symptoms of ovarian cancer.  The CA 125 came back at 220.  I have seen an oncologist and am scheduled for surgery in 3 weeks.  My dr thinks we should do a complete hysterectomy.  Oncologist thinks we should leave the other ovary...if it turns out not to be cancer.  Everyone keeps saying I am NOT the typical cancer patient..but they seem to be worried.

Anyway, I'm looking for CA 125 links and maybe upside/downside of hysterectomy versus leaving the ovary.  I'm not sure what to think right now.  thanks

[karol0405]

Maggie....

thank you for your posts...and everyone else!  I have always been a go-go-go person.  I volunteer for everything and do everything.  At the end of last school year, I really started saying no and backing out of things I always did.  I was tired and just grouchy and done!  I now just have to wonder if that was my mind/body telling me something.  I am somewhat confident that the CT scan came back and the dr said he didn't see anything else that concerned him.  I guess that's good!  I am very aware of my body, and I just don't think this has been going on for very long.  And less than 2 years ago, I had a regular gyn exam, and she didn't feel anything then in the ovary.  I don't know if that's good or bad.  And everything I have read says not to freak over the CA125...but the dr clearly didn't like it being 220...so...I just don't know what to think!!

thanks for welcoming me to your boat!

[Mags711]

I got carried away on my soapbox and forgot about your CA125 question.  Here is my simplified explanation.  The CA stand for cancer antigen.  CA125 is the cancer marker for some of the female abdominal cancers.  CA125 is the protein on the outside of the cancer cells.  Typically you might think the higher the number means more cancer, but not necessarily.  The CA125 can be affected by other irritations in the abdomen like your period, abdominal stress, digestive stress.  For examply, my first CA125 was 800, just after removal of my ovarian tumors.  Today my CA125 is in the 1200 range, but last week when the blood was drawn I was just getting over food poisoning or maybe a flu and had an irritated digestive track.  My tumors are less than 3cm right now, I feel good and am fatigued more from the chemo I am on than the cancer.  Go figure.  

Just find out, over time, if the CA125 is a good marker for you.  Does your physical state reflect you CA125.  You will figure this out, you have no choice really.  Just keep posting questions here.  We all want to help, we are all in the 'same boat' - we will welcome you aboard and we will all work our best to take care of eachother.
Maggie

[Mags711]

I also want to caution you to slow down, but I am a 44 yr old dxd in July 2007, all the same symptoms, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, pains in my ovaries, finally had pain during intercourse.  I found out during emergency surgery! The tumor had grown from my ovaries to colon.  I believe it is best to be patient, but that (patience) has really only come with time.  I am stage III epitheleal and am in treatment now.  I see this cancer as always being a part of my future and most certainly my death, but for now I am living and living a pretty good life.  My best advice is to keep asking questions, keep researching, have a full hysterectomy, chemo and then always follow up.  Eat a good diet, sleep well, take good care of yourself and those who care for you and hope that this will be a part of your past.  

I am not a pessimist, but I wish my doc had been looking past the IBS and was more aggressive and to be honest, I wish I had been more connected to myself.  It is what it is...
Maggie

[Sandymac]

That's a good idea... calling the Dr. .. Yes, not feeling well makes everything all that much worse. We really do understand..

Try to have a good weekend and please fill us in after you speak with your Dr. I hope your Dr. has encouraging things to say..

Take care,
Sandy

[karol0405]

thank you Sandy.  I am a 'dweller' by nature!  I know it's there, and I know it's not changing.  If I felt better physically, I think I would be much more calmer about it.  But I don't feel well, and that coupled with there is something there, just doesn't work well.

I have come up with a list of questions...I'll call the dr. monday and see what all she says.

[Sandymac]

PS... You may also want to post on the Ovarian Cyst Forum.. All sorts of information on cysts.. And... I also forgot to direct you to the top right of this page "Health Pages".. Lots of information there as well   S.

[Sandymac]

As hard as I know it is, please try to not think about it too much .. I know, I know , that's next to impossible.but try to think of it this way.. 3 weeks isn't really all that far away and I don't think any major changes will occur in that period of time. The CA-125 does mean something , but it can also mean lots of different things so try to focus on that..And try not to focus on that number. I t could be any number of reasons. Some gals have numbers in the thousands !!! . You can google it CA-125 and it will list all the other things that will throw the numbers off. The American Cancer Society has some info. on it as well.

Something someone told me when I was going through this waiting was this: (and at first it sounds sort of harsh, but I realized it was true.. I didn't like it , but it's true).. She said:
"Whatever it is, it already is and and no amount of worrying about it will change it.. whether it is good or not so good" I kept thinking and thinking about that and it does make sense. I wish I could think of all the other things that can cause a rise in the CA125, but can't right now..so the best thing is to try to put it out of your mind. Would you Dr. be willing to prescribe some anti  anxiety meds for you?

Please keep in touch
Good luck and try not to worry
Sandy

[karol0405]

I am 41.

My drs seems to be very proactive!  I sorta get the feeling my primary dr keeps saying 'you're not the typical patient' to try and talk her self into believing it!  I totally understand that Ca 125 isn't the final word..I get that.  But clearly it means something cause it sure made everyone react quickly!

I have had bloating, NONE of my pants fit me.  I've ALWAYS been the same size - minus pregnancies!  I have diahrea.  I first thought I had a UTI, and had planned on telling the dr I keep having these UTI symptoms...but not really.  I have the feeling to go, but then it trickles out.  I am nausea, nothing tastes good, I eat two bites, and am stuffed, then I'm nausaous cause I'm so full, but I have nothing in my stomach to be sick about.  I NEVER put all these together with that pain that I was sure was my ovary until I started researching.  I just need to wrap my brain around this 220 and what it might mean.

[Sandymac]

One thing I'd like to add to this is that based on what I've read here ,there is no "typical cancer patient".. That's one of the problems I think with the medical profession. There are ladies on this forum with Ovca that are in their 20's . There are some who have Ovca and their CA-125 was not even elevated ! There are those who have really high CA-125 results and they do not have Ovca.

This disease has been known as the "silent" disease, yet many of the ladies here did have symptoms .. very much like symptoms for other diseases .. Bloating I think is one of he primary ones.

All I have learned is what I have picked up from this site.. but the CA-125 is not supposed to be that reliable in premenopausal women. There are a lot of other things that can cause it to be elevated. If you google "CA-125 relliability" , it will explain all the different things i.e. infections, endometriosis, etc. .. The normal range is to be under 35 . usually.. Now, if you're postmenopausal, they look at the results differently . A higher number is more important. The CA-125 is designed to be used as a marker
for those already dx. with ovca to determine how well a treatment is working. The American Cancer Society on it's web site (just put CA-125) suggests it not be used as a screening tool in the absence of other symptoms.

Unfortunately,there are ladies that have been passed from one Dr. to another because their Drs. felt they didn't fit the "profile" for a typical ovca patient.. Phooey !!!  I'm glad your Drs. are proactive and are doing something for you !!
Good luck and let us know ..
Sandy

Don't forget that cysts are 95 % benign !!

[silver&gold]

How old are you please ? because this can make a difference with the ca125, before menopause fibroids, endometriosis and many other things can raise the ca125 . If you would add some information in your profile it would be helpful.

Angie