CA125 level

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Hello

Post hysterectomy I was staged as stage 2 grade 1 endometrial cancer.  I have just completed 25 radiotherapy sessions and am going to have 2 brachytherapy.  I am 53 years old.

My question is that before my main investigations started I had a blood test and CA125 was 291.  Reading posts on womb cancer forum it seems this is quite high.   Especially given my staging.

is this result normal for my diagnosis and staging and will I be tested again.  I wasn't on HRT and hadn't had a period for about 5 years.

  • Hi FJ71,

    My name is Anne, and I am one of the nurses on the Support Line. Welcome to the online community. I see you have already joined our womb cancer forum. I hope you have found it supportive so far. It can be really useful, hearing about other women’s situations. I’m glad to hear that the cancer was picked up at an early stage and I hope you are managing ok with the treatment.

    I understand that you are concerned about having had a high CA125 reading early on in your investigations. CA125 stands for Carbohydrate Antigen 125 and is a protein that is found in blood. A normal level is usually less than 35. An elevated CA125 can be caused by cancerous conditions such as ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and other intra-abdominal cancers. However, it can also be elevated due to non-malignant conditions including fibroids and endometriosis. It is a ‘non-specific test’, whereby it can be elevated in several different conditions.

    You should expect regular monitoring once your treatment is completed. This is likely to take place in the form of a physical examination every 3-6 months for 2 to 3 years, then every 6 to 12 months until year 5, then annually. You should also be given information about what to look out for and whom to contact, should you experience any problems or side effects of treatment.

    It might be worth calling your Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to have a chat about what to expect once treatment ends. They should be able to advise if they would want to monitor your CA125 at this stage. If you’re unsure of their contact details, your consultant’s secretary should be able to provide you with them.

    You may be interested in our booklet on what to do when cancer treatment ends. Your hospital team can advise you on what sort of support they can offer and what to do if you have any concerns during recovery and beyond.

    Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of my colleagues on the support line if you’d like to have a chat about anything.

    Take care for now,

    Anne - Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.

    Ref/**DS

  • Thank you.  I rang the team earlier and advised they won't test again as everything has been removed and I had a cyst on my ovaries which was the likely cause.   It was mainly a letter which concerned me as it said that they known it was stage 2 they would have checked my lymph nodes.

    I am due to have follow ups in the form of physical observations.  Nothing else