Very confused please help..

[Raerae336]

First let me say I am surprised by the lack of responses I've received from medhelp community. I've been a member for quite a while and although I'm not on too frequently I still usually get some sort of response. Anyways I posted a few days ago because I was diagnosed with a complex paraovarian cyst. The doctor told me he would do a ca 125 which is commonly used to help determine the chances a tumor of the ovaries is cancerous. I waited five days for results called today only to be told he didn't order a ca 125 but a CEA which when I googled CEA labs it came back about colon cancer. It did say it can also check for some forms of ovarian cancer but wasn't commonly used for that... so should I complain? Do you think he ordered the wrong test or I'm over reacting???

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It is true that CEA test is mainly for colon cancer. But CEA is also used as a marker for other forms of cancer, including cancers of the rectum, lung, breast, liver, pancreas, stomach, and ovary. Since not all cancers produce CEA, it is possible to have cancer but also have a normal CEA level. So it is not a very reliable test.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

I agree, CEA is an ok test, i would wait for those results, and then ask if he could do a Ca 125 just to ease your mind, if nothing else, most Doctors would. Than you can go from there. I say these as an RN. Thanks and GOOD LUCK