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CA-125 Rising
Some may remember me - dx Nov 05, OvCa 3C, optimal debulking, 6 x carbo/taxol, last chemo in March 2006. Doing great ever since and I am grateful.
CA125 was 980 prior to surgery, 263 after surgery, 63 after first chemo treatment, 19 after the second, and between 9 and 14 thereafter. In January 2009 it was 11. April, 14. July, 16. This week, 26 - a 10 point increase in three months. No doubling, but close!
From what I can gather online a rise is predicative of recurrence, even in absence of other findings. Recurrence could be a few months or two years away but it is coming. I am having a hard time calming myself down right now.
The good thing is, due to a tiny liver lesion on CT scan (5 mm max) in January, the CT was repeated just two weeks ago and the lesion deemed insignificant, same size 3 mm, and it has been there for about 3 years now or longer. The CT scan report reads completely unremarkable with no signs of recurrent disease. I feel good and have no pains or bloating or other symptoms. Mammogram and pelvic exam were normal.
Dr. will recheck the CA 125 in two months (because no other findings at this time) if it is up again he will do a PET Scan.
Question: did anyone ever have such a CA125 jump for other reasons? I did feel ill last week - stomach flu that now turned into a head cold, closed ears and headaches - bloodwork was a few days ago. Could that explain the jump? Of course, the trend was there...
CA125 was 980 prior to surgery, 263 after surgery, 63 after first chemo treatment, 19 after the second, and between 9 and 14 thereafter. In January 2009 it was 11. April, 14. July, 16. This week, 26 - a 10 point increase in three months. No doubling, but close!
From what I can gather online a rise is predicative of recurrence, even in absence of other findings. Recurrence could be a few months or two years away but it is coming. I am having a hard time calming myself down right now.
The good thing is, due to a tiny liver lesion on CT scan (5 mm max) in January, the CT was repeated just two weeks ago and the lesion deemed insignificant, same size 3 mm, and it has been there for about 3 years now or longer. The CT scan report reads completely unremarkable with no signs of recurrent disease. I feel good and have no pains or bloating or other symptoms. Mammogram and pelvic exam were normal.
Dr. will recheck the CA 125 in two months (because no other findings at this time) if it is up again he will do a PET Scan.
Question: did anyone ever have such a CA125 jump for other reasons? I did feel ill last week - stomach flu that now turned into a head cold, closed ears and headaches - bloodwork was a few days ago. Could that explain the jump? Of course, the trend was there...
My sister's story is just like yours. She left for Mayo this am I'll let you know what her onc. says. take care
Update: Since I last posted, I had kidney pain and foamy urine, and while being treated for a sneaky kidney infection, my oncologist, who I called to consult, ordered a CT which was done on 1/5/10. It came back clean. I just had the CA-125 repeated and it was 24 - down 3 points from 27.
Still not quite sure what all of this means. I have an oncology and endocrinology appointment next week. At this point, I am not worried about a recurrence too much. The marker is still somewhat elevated for me, but I do have other issues right now that are being investigated - hormonal issues, intermittent kidney pain, and 3 weeks ago I had a lipoma removed the recovery for which was longer than expected.
Likely, I will have to wait until March or April to see if the marker keeps dropping.
Still not quite sure what all of this means. I have an oncology and endocrinology appointment next week. At this point, I am not worried about a recurrence too much. The marker is still somewhat elevated for me, but I do have other issues right now that are being investigated - hormonal issues, intermittent kidney pain, and 3 weeks ago I had a lipoma removed the recovery for which was longer than expected.
Likely, I will have to wait until March or April to see if the marker keeps dropping.
I too was treated for Stage 3 and completed 6 rounds of chemo & 2 surgeries in early '08. My CA-125 levels have remained around 9,inl Nov it was 28 & it was 54 in Dec.'09.
I'm alarmed. I've read some doctors prefer to wait to treat when patient is otherwise asymtomatic. What would the symptoms be? a blockage? I lost so much of my large & samll intestine I don't want to chance loosing anymore. Living with Peritoneal (ovarin) cancer is worrisome at the least.
To answer your question, I was told that the levels can be affected by other things going on in the intestines for example. This is the reason the test is repeated monthly after a rise.
I'm alarmed. I've read some doctors prefer to wait to treat when patient is otherwise asymtomatic. What would the symptoms be? a blockage? I lost so much of my large & samll intestine I don't want to chance loosing anymore. Living with Peritoneal (ovarin) cancer is worrisome at the least.
To answer your question, I was told that the levels can be affected by other things going on in the intestines for example. This is the reason the test is repeated monthly after a rise.
hi there,
i was diagnosed with ca ovary stage 3c in may 09. my ca125 was 531 during diagnosis, acitic fluid tested non-malignant. I received 4 cycles of neadjuvant chemotherapy(carbo/taxol). After 3rd chemo my ca went down to 8. after 4th chemo, i had my surgery. the onco surgeon said that chemo has worked wonderfully and trhere was no residual disease. th biopsy report also said the same. then i had two more chemotherapy after surgery. my last chemo was on 8th october. I had ca 125 tested on Nov11th and it was 16. we were quite worried as why it went up. the doc said it could be normal but suggested a pet ct. the pet ct was clear, then he said to repeat the ca after 3 months. we repeated it again on 15 dec, it was 16.2 this time. does anybody have same experience with rising ca. my question is how can th ca be 8 after 3 chemos and after surgery and chemo why it became 16??
i was diagnosed with ca ovary stage 3c in may 09. my ca125 was 531 during diagnosis, acitic fluid tested non-malignant. I received 4 cycles of neadjuvant chemotherapy(carbo/taxol). After 3rd chemo my ca went down to 8. after 4th chemo, i had my surgery. the onco surgeon said that chemo has worked wonderfully and trhere was no residual disease. th biopsy report also said the same. then i had two more chemotherapy after surgery. my last chemo was on 8th october. I had ca 125 tested on Nov11th and it was 16. we were quite worried as why it went up. the doc said it could be normal but suggested a pet ct. the pet ct was clear, then he said to repeat the ca after 3 months. we repeated it again on 15 dec, it was 16.2 this time. does anybody have same experience with rising ca. my question is how can th ca be 8 after 3 chemos and after surgery and chemo why it became 16??
I had my appointment today, but not much could be added - pelvic exam was normal. Since the marker is still within normal range and has not doubled, he won't do a PET at this point. We will recheck the marker and go from there. Because I have a lipoma removal and colonoscopy scheduled for January, both of which can affect the CA-125, the tumor marker will likely be checked at the end of Jan/early Feb. I will see him again on 2/11.
They said that indeed they have had patients that had an increase in CA-125 that eventually came back down, with no recurrence.
They said that indeed they have had patients that had an increase in CA-125 that eventually came back down, with no recurrence.
Well, the two-month wait is over and my new tumor marker is 27.2. It rose by 1.2 points in two months. I would consider that a fluctuation, except, I have not had a DOWNward fluctuation in one year now, so while I am delighted that the marker has not doubled and gone out of normal range, I am still concerned about the upward trend.
Will talk to my onc on Thursday, I have a few questions for him, and will report back.
Will talk to my onc on Thursday, I have a few questions for him, and will report back.
Yes, that is what everyone says, and indeed, it is what one should do. I hope to get back in my rhythm very soon so I can enjoy these two months before, potentially, the other shoe will drop.
My gyn/onc is very thorough so I am sure that even if it turns out stable or falling, he will still check it every two months, although I was supposed to go on every 6 months. Whatever he says, it is what I will do.
I will see my family doctor on Monday, they already took my blood, complete bloodwork (liver, thyroid, wbc, etc), and a good exam/talk. I have a small fatty tumor above my hip bone - both my parents had the same - harmless, but they can get inflamed/infected and my mom had hers removed last year. It has been giving me some vague troubles over the summer so I will have it removed. I will also get a referral for a colonoscopy, hopefully, before I see my onc again, so he will have those results as well. My dad had colon cancer at age 50, so that's another possibility.
Will keep everyone posted.
My gyn/onc is very thorough so I am sure that even if it turns out stable or falling, he will still check it every two months, although I was supposed to go on every 6 months. Whatever he says, it is what I will do.
I will see my family doctor on Monday, they already took my blood, complete bloodwork (liver, thyroid, wbc, etc), and a good exam/talk. I have a small fatty tumor above my hip bone - both my parents had the same - harmless, but they can get inflamed/infected and my mom had hers removed last year. It has been giving me some vague troubles over the summer so I will have it removed. I will also get a referral for a colonoscopy, hopefully, before I see my onc again, so he will have those results as well. My dad had colon cancer at age 50, so that's another possibility.
Will keep everyone posted.
CA125 can go up with other infections so don't panic yet.
The uncertainty is hard isn't it, and it is all very well for anyone else to say "don't worry until it happens" but that is the best I can come up with.
The uncertainty is hard isn't it, and it is all very well for anyone else to say "don't worry until it happens" but that is the best I can come up with.
Hi there,
I am bumping this post up so hopefully someone can answer who has experience with your situation.
From things I have read and heard, once CA125 has been determined to be a good marker for you, I think it is usually a cause for concern when it starts to climb. Your numbers are still low and who knows about how the flu could affect it. My CA125 decreased after surgery and has never increased. Hopefully, your gyn/onc can follow you closely. Sorry to not be much help. It is a very stressful situation.
Shelly
I am bumping this post up so hopefully someone can answer who has experience with your situation.
From things I have read and heard, once CA125 has been determined to be a good marker for you, I think it is usually a cause for concern when it starts to climb. Your numbers are still low and who knows about how the flu could affect it. My CA125 decreased after surgery and has never increased. Hopefully, your gyn/onc can follow you closely. Sorry to not be much help. It is a very stressful situation.
Shelly
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