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CA 125 level elevated -waiting for MRI & hysteroscopy
Hello. I am 53 and live in Northern California.I have been monitoring this website since being told that I had a 7 cm mass on my right ovary. It was found on a CT scan. My symptoms were all gastrointestinal, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, loss of appetite, fullness, not even wanting to eat, etc. I lost 22 pounds in 6 weeks-the ONLY good thing about all of this; I've been trying to lose 40 pounds for 3 years and haven't been successful, even with 4-5 hours of cardio and 1-2 hours of strength training per week.
The gastroenterologist sent me to a gynecologist here locally. He has a good reputation. I found out when I went to see him that my CA-125 level was 80 (0-35 normal). My regular doctor ordered that test & didn't call me with the results-that's another issue-how many of you have difficulty getting a timely response from your docs?
The gynecologist has ordered an MRI to check lymph nodes. He said the probablility of cancer is 50/50, which to me means nothing. I have no more of an answer than I did before.
The gyn also wants to do a hysteroscopy, as the transvaginal ultrasound showed a thickening of the uterine lining which is strange since I had an ablation about 18 months ago. He said if lymph nodes show involvement he will probably send me to a larger hospital; if not, he wants to take everything except my cervic, and he said he would leave that because I had the bladder sling procedure done about 5 years ago. I had cryosurgery on my cervix in 1990, and no problems since so I am okay with that. Now, I have started bleeding again, just in the past 2 days, after 6 months of nothing, which is also worrying me.
My husband's sisters have a genetic form of a very aggressive stomach cancer. The first one diagnosed died at 47, less than 2 years after diagnosis, and we think it's partly because she took so much time getting to a specialist in Sacramento-over 6 weeks,and he didn't specialize in her type of cancer. The second sister to be diagnosed called Stanford Medical Center and had her stomach removed 3 weeks later and is doing well. I put this in here because I feel things are moving too slowly. I saw the Gyn last Thursday, my MRI is tomorrow *Wednesday), and hysteroscopy next Thursday. The actual surgery is scheduled for June 2nd, barring any new information.
If anyone can give me helpful information, help ease my fears about any of this, or just tell me your success story I would really appreciate it. I made an appointment for a second opinion at the Stanford Gynelological clinic, because the care my sister-in-laws received was exceptional, so if I have cancer I want to go there. The thing that is bothering me the most is the CA-125 test. Thanks for any help, and especially for this forum where I can post me thoughts and feelings and ask the real experts.
The gastroenterologist sent me to a gynecologist here locally. He has a good reputation. I found out when I went to see him that my CA-125 level was 80 (0-35 normal). My regular doctor ordered that test & didn't call me with the results-that's another issue-how many of you have difficulty getting a timely response from your docs?
The gynecologist has ordered an MRI to check lymph nodes. He said the probablility of cancer is 50/50, which to me means nothing. I have no more of an answer than I did before.
The gyn also wants to do a hysteroscopy, as the transvaginal ultrasound showed a thickening of the uterine lining which is strange since I had an ablation about 18 months ago. He said if lymph nodes show involvement he will probably send me to a larger hospital; if not, he wants to take everything except my cervic, and he said he would leave that because I had the bladder sling procedure done about 5 years ago. I had cryosurgery on my cervix in 1990, and no problems since so I am okay with that. Now, I have started bleeding again, just in the past 2 days, after 6 months of nothing, which is also worrying me.
My husband's sisters have a genetic form of a very aggressive stomach cancer. The first one diagnosed died at 47, less than 2 years after diagnosis, and we think it's partly because she took so much time getting to a specialist in Sacramento-over 6 weeks,and he didn't specialize in her type of cancer. The second sister to be diagnosed called Stanford Medical Center and had her stomach removed 3 weeks later and is doing well. I put this in here because I feel things are moving too slowly. I saw the Gyn last Thursday, my MRI is tomorrow *Wednesday), and hysteroscopy next Thursday. The actual surgery is scheduled for June 2nd, barring any new information.
If anyone can give me helpful information, help ease my fears about any of this, or just tell me your success story I would really appreciate it. I made an appointment for a second opinion at the Stanford Gynelological clinic, because the care my sister-in-laws received was exceptional, so if I have cancer I want to go there. The thing that is bothering me the most is the CA-125 test. Thanks for any help, and especially for this forum where I can post me thoughts and feelings and ask the real experts.
Wow. I really appreciate the advice about the gynecological oncologist. I will call Stanford today and will call the cancer clinic and get an appointment. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
As all the others have stated, you should really get an appointment with a gynecological oncologist asap. Don't mess around with anyone else is my advice too.
Many things can cause an elevated CA-125 (endometriosis, benign tumors, inflammation etc). Most cysts are benign but my primary doctor referred me directly to a gyn-oncologist even though there is no way to know if cancer exists until the surgery. It was scary to make an appointment with an oncologist but those folks usually get you in pretty quickly. I had my appointment on a Wednesday and scheduled the hysterectomy for the following Tuesday. It helped me a lot that they moved quickly, and I found comfort in knowing that I would be in the right place from the get-go.
Good luck to you!
Good luck to you!
Just want you know that it is very important for you to have a GYN/oncologist to perform the surgery just in case. They are the specialist in that area. You only have one chance to get it right. Hope you can change appt with a GYN/Oncogist in Stanford not a regular GYN.
I have found that the only way to move things faster is you have to be proactive, meaning call they to find out the result, call they to move your appt earlier if there is a cancellation.
I learned all these since my dx 3 yrs ago.
Best!
jun
I have found that the only way to move things faster is you have to be proactive, meaning call they to find out the result, call they to move your appt earlier if there is a cancellation.
I learned all these since my dx 3 yrs ago.
Best!
jun
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