Hi everyone, so I'm very new to this site and I was wondering if anyone could give me some helpful advice.
I purchased a CA125 Rapid Ovarian Cancer Test as I was told I am high risk due to many factors in my health such as PCOS being the main one.
I am currency on Prostap injections, 12 weekly and HRT. And I have just turned 40 and have been on Prostap for over 2years.
My last smear said borderline squamous I think that's the word and that they were happy to leave me for 3yrs and they'd contact me, that was in 2019.
Problem I have is my GP is pretty useless here. They don't listen to anything, appointments are triage and then you have to wait upto 6 weeks for one. So I went ahead and purchased the test from a UK health shop costing £25.
As soon as I dropped my blood and buffer into the test and the fluid went up, the test line appeared, meaning Positive indication right away so obviously my heart skipped a few beats, but I calmed down and took a few breaths. I suffer with anxiety and I'm on meds for it.
However, apparently the doctor says my platelets are up on my last blood test, done a couple of weeks ago, is this a coincidence? Is it the same thing?
So do I trust this test and ring the Doctors tomorrow and tell them what I've done and tell them I want an urgent appointment or blood test for CA125 within the surgery?
I'm already a mess as my Dad's prostate cancer has just returned, diagnosed last week, after he beat it a few years ago and he also has cardio Amyloidosis which is terminal also
Many thanks and love to you all xxx
Hello GSDlover,
Welcome to the Online Community.
I am sorry that you have had a positive test using a CA125 home test. I can understand that this must be very worrying for you.
A CA125 test is looking for levels of a marker that can be raised in cases of ovarian cancer and some other gynaecological cancers such as womb cancer. It was a blood marker that was done during my treatment for womb cancer last year. However a positive result does not necessarily mean there is cancer. It can be raised for other reasons such as infections.
My advice is to try not to panic too much, I know this is difficult- but to give your GP surgery a call, explain you have had a positive on the test and can they see you/arrange a full blood test with CA125 for reassurance. I would also imagine that a full blood screen and a GP CA125 would give much more detail. I do not know much about home testing but I would imagine a home CA125 would be like the bowel screening tests. They would give a positive or negative but that this would need to be followed up with a more specific/detailed test. It may be that you could be referred for an ultrasound.
Hope this helps and hope you can get the bloods redone and some reassurance from your GP practice.
Jane
Hi Sammi,
Am glad that your CA125 came back normal, that is a good thing at least.
Given that you are having trouble getting to see your doctor and getting anything much from them, I am wondering if it may be worth trying to get an appointment with your practice nurse.
At my surgery I am able to make an appointment directly with the practice nurse for things like smear tests and women's issues eg to discuss HRT, discharges, infections etc. The itchiness could be due to a simple infection and the nurse would be able to take a swab for you to be sent off. You would also be able to talk to her about the other symptoms that are concerning you. If the nurse then feels that they are concerning they can speak with your doctor/refer you for further tests/scans if needed.
A couple of my practice nurses are also nurse practitioners so can prescribe some meds. I just feel you need to talk through what is bothering you with someone who can give more reassurance than the GP. And if they are concerned it might start the ball rolling. At my surgery I can make an appointment direct with the nurses or I can submit an online consultation and mark it for the practice nurse who then has called me back and booked for me to come in. Worth a try I think. You said you are due for a smear test to be done so that in itself is a good reason to call and ask directly for an appointment for that.
In the meantime if you are ever in such pain again I would suggest calling NHS 111 for immediate advice if your GP surgery is closed.
I am sorry to hear that your Dad has cancer and that in itself is a lot to deal with. Has he got a CNS that you can both speak to? Is there a Consultant he is under that you could contact? I was able to contact my consultant directly by emailing his secretary. Might be worth a try. I also did an Online Consultation with my GP who was able to contact the hospital via an internal line and got a response the same day. You need support with this as a family as well. If Dad has any letters from the hospital they would normally have a contact number or email address on. Perhaps have a look.
I am sorry you are going through this and understand how hard it must be. Try and get into see the Practice nurse as a starting point for yourself and try and get hold of someone who is treating Dad to get some support there. In the meantime if there is anything else you need please do ask.
Jane
