slight rise in CA 125

[dmakkn]

Has anyone had a slight increase in their CA 125 and have it go back down on its own without treatment?  I had not had any treatment except surgery and was wondering if CA 125s go up and down slightly.

My CA 125 has gone from
45.0  pre-op
9.0  3 weeks post op
8.2  12/06  (CT scan was clear)
7.5   3/07
8.8   6/5  (CT scan was clear.)

[nyc lady]

Once dx'd with OvCa and if you are CA125 sensitive (not everyone's counts rise even though they have cancer), it is my understanding that doctors watch for a rising trend and/or doubling of numbers.  These numbers do not have to exceed 35 to indicate the growth of cancer cells.  I do not know about the CA125 test in relation to cervical cancer.

[bkane]

I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and had a complete hysterectomy in Sept. 2005.  Durng the survery, my gyn found a cervical tumor and i had to have 28 radiation treatments and brachyotherapy. (A capsule of radio active material inserted into the vagina for 30 hours in hospital stay)  Any way in July 2007, my leg started hurting, had an MRI and the dr. notice swollen lymph glands around the aortic artery which were indicative of metastatic cervical cancer.  I had a CT Scan and a CA125 which was 149.  Way over the normal limit of 35.  I went to an oncologist and had 6 rounds of chemotherapy, paxitaxol and carboplatin, after the 6 treatments my CA125 went down to 9.2.  I finished up all chemo November 2006.  Since then my count has risen 1 -2 points every couple months, now it's up to 12.  Which is still very low and way within normal limits, but i'm somewhat concerned.  I go for my 6 month CT scan in July and very worried.  I would think if the cancer is not spreading or is in remission the count would stay the same or even drop lower.  My oncology nurse said not to worry, this count can flucuate and 12 is way within normal limits and they don't become concerned until it rises above 35.  Is anyone familiar with this???

Thank you.

[nyc lady]

A CA125 is not a tool used in dx'ing OvCa.  It is best used as a marker in someone already dx'd with the disease.  Most of the time, early stage OvCa will have little or no effect on the CA125 count.

CA125's are not reliable in pre-menopausal women and there are numerous things that can throw the number off.  A CA125 blood test is best used in concert with transvaginal sonos, CT Scans and/or PET Scans.

[Cagney2712]

I have a similar question. A month before my surgery my CA-125 was 44. The week before surgery it was 22.5.  I was found to have a borderline, Stage 1A complex cyst, low malignancy potential, and had everything removed- both ovaries, tubes, uterus, & cervix. No chemo was necessary, &  My recovery has gone extremely well.  Well, much to my suprise, at my 3 month follow-up with the gyn. oncologist, I had another CA-125 done, and it's up to 40!!   What the heck is going on!??  I assumed it would go down, not up.  I realize alot of things can influence the CA-125,  but can't help feeling a bit copncerned that it seems to be going in the  wrong direction!!  Has anyone had a similar experience? Could it be that my hormones are still just messed up from the surgery,  or could something have been missed???

[dmakkn]

Thanks for the information about your CA 125 changes.  At the time of my surgery the pathology report during surgery came back as a benign Thecoma.  Thus no staging was done etc.  However the next morning another pathologist looked at it and did not like the looks and number of cells/mitotic count and sent it on to Mass. General Hosp. pathology.  They said that it was not a Thecoma and thought it could be a cellular fibroma or a fibrosarcoma and favored the fibrosarcoma grade 1.  MD Anderson also looked at it and said it was a cellular fibroma that should be watched closely as these can recur. So I am being seen every three months.  Because it was a fibroma no treatment was needed.  

[baguba]

My CA 125 has fluctuated up and down over the past year from 8.1 to 4.3, back to 6.1, them most recently 7.8.  I am taking years' maint. treatment of Taxol, so I really don't think this CA 125 has "stabilized".  My onc. says it's such a sensitive test that the slightest thing can make it rise or fall. They look for a doubling or tripling "trend" before they place much credence in it, I believe. My Ct scans, too, remain clear, and so long as yours do also, I would follow my doctor's lead and not (at least try not) to worry.  What stage were you when dx, and if you don't mind my asking, how come you did not take any chemo treatments? Best wishes for continued healthy days ahead.

Judie: