Actions for CA125 rise?

[Ang80]

Hi

What would your actions be for a CA125 rise:

Stage 3 OVCA
Diagnosed March 2005 CA125 512
Aug 2005 until Sept 2006 CA125 12
Jan 2007 21

Have you seen women have a rise and then a fall in CA125?

Is this rise a bad sign?

My mum suffers from anal fissures and I was told they cause inflammation in the bowel, could these cause the rise?

If the CA125 had risen next time what action should be taken?

Thanks

[Hazel30]

Hi there, I  thought I would post because I see how worried you are regarding your Moms CA-125.  When my Moms ca-125 was rising her doctor said it could be from a number of things: inflammation withing the body, arthritis and more.  Due to your Moms anal fissurs that could rise the ca-125 because of the inflammation.  I think you mentioned in your other posts that she goes for another ca-125 in april.  You can wait until then, or if you and your Mom are this concerned ask your doctor to order another one thats sooner.  If the level is slowly rising then he may order a CT scan to see whats going on. If the CT scan is clear then they may want to do more frequent CA-125 tests to see where her levels are, rising or just stabolizing.  Now from our expirience doctors dont usualy do them frequent like every month, they usualy perform them every two months. We, in this case were just as worried as you are now, and requested them to be done every month because I couldnt even sleep not knowing what is going on and didnt want to wait months until doctors observed her case.  So generaly to my answer to you is if ca-125 is rising in next blood test I would recommed a CT scan although some doctors dont feel they are necessary if your under 35.  I personaly dont feel thats the case.  But you guys do and ask for what ever you feel is best.
Good Luck to you

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,
I would recommend repeating the CA 125 in one month. I would also recommend getting a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis. If the Ct scan is normal, but the CA 125 continues to rise, the choices are to watch and wait or to consider looking inside with a laparoscopic surgery.

There are other conditions that can cause a bump in the CA 125 such as infections (pneumonia, inflammation of the gallbladder, kidney stones). I have seen false elevation in some people I have taken care of who took certain Chinese herbs that caused temporary liver damage.

I would also recommend checking liver function blood tests. If your mother is on any herbal medicine, she should consider stopping those.

best wishes to you