CA-125

[WildFlower84]

Hello. I'm very new to this website...just registered today!

I just received my first CA-125 test results post surgery. They were 94. He says that they are elevated and that it could mean a lot of different things and to not worry yet. I'm going to have to take the CA-125 tests every month for the next couple months to make sure they go down.

I'm just not familiar with the ranges of the CA-125 test...any ideas out there?

I had a laparotomy to remove the tumor and I was curious to see if anyone had any helpful hints on working on my lower ab muscles...I know they cut through it but it's been 5 weeks, today, and I can barely lift both my legs while laying down.

[hopeshell]

HI there, You are so young and I am sorry to hear about your dx.  The CA-125 is considered elevated over 35 (in general) so yours is higher than it should be.  It is good you are seeing a gyn/onc now.  It is too bad you didn't have the CA-125 before surgery but I can see how at 24 they would just assume it was a benign mass.  My CA-125 slowly declined after surgery.    It sounds good if they are calling your tumor a borderline since those tumors do leave you the option of retaining your other ovary.  Best wishes and let us know how it goes.

[WildFlower84]

Jane,

Thank you for your response. I had a 12 cm Borderline Malignant Serous Tumor that was inside my left ovary. They found it by doing multiple ultrasounds and by performing a CA-125 blood test. I do not know what my CA-125 levels were pre surgery (I am trying to get a hold of my doctor/she is very hard to get a hold of and the reason why I am seeking a new OB/GYN). My surgeon was not a gyn/onc but my surgeon referred me to one after the surgery. I am trying to get all my information sent over to my GYN/ONC because my GYN/ONC is blind about the surgery and what my surgeon did see. They did find 3 other cysts on my right ovary...which makes me worried because she didnt touch them (she says they looked like simple cysts). I'm only 24 years old and I would love to save my fertility. About 2 weeks ago I had my first visit with an oncologist and he officially diagnosed me with Stage 1 Ovarian Cancer. Again I truly appreciate your comment and will be contacting my doctor on Monday.

[jane65]

Hi Wildflower,
I understand your concern, but I have a few questions for you. Why did your doctor feel that you needed surgery, was the tumor seen on an ovary during a transvaginal ultrasound and did the doctor do a CA125 test before the surgery? If so what was the number?

I hope your surgeon was a GYN/ONC and took a good look at all your organs during surgery. I'm sure a specimen of the tumor was sent to the hospital pathology lab during the surgery, has your doctor told you what was found? Benign or cancer and how were you staged, in other words if it was cancer, did it spread?

I expect that you've had an appointment with him since your surgery. If you don't have all those answers, you should make another appointment with him, and get the answers and copies of all your test results, the surgeon's report, and the path lab report for your file. Be sure to discuss your CA question with him as well.

As far as your abdominal muscles, you had surgery and it takes months for them to completely heal, don't push it with exercise now.

Good luck,
Jane