CA125 levels with USPC

Hi

just saw your post. 

I understand that ca125 will come down with the treatment. 

By the time you will finish the treatment. Your ca 125 will be normal. I was told it is just a marker. It can go up or down for different reasons. It will be good idea to speak to your nurse. What was your ca 125 before the surgery? 

My marker was 475 but after surgery and 6 session of cameo therapy, it was down to 40. I have recently had a blood test and it is slightly higher again. They have requested for me to have a scan. 

The doctors told me that I responded well to the treatment. It is difficult to know. I found that some doctors take the marker seriously and other do not. 

Please do not worry

Hope that all will be well 

lots of love and best wishes

Rahman x

Thanks for responding Rahman,

They dont seem to gave been taking my CA125 much, so it seems it was not done pre surgery. That may be because the cancer was endometrial , and not everyone seems to realise the need when  it is serous cancer.

I did discover that my CA125 level was 24 on 30th May, 6 weeks after my op on 15th April. That was my pre adjuvant blood test treatment level, when I was hopping up and down trying to get them to get on with it. I switched back to private treatment  then, as the nhs offer was 30 days from then (10 weeks from op)to start radio and chemo, and private was 2 weeks, so 8 weeks from op. I shopped around but that was the best I could get.

So, a level of 24, which is in the normal range, 6 weeks after op. I had no visible residual disease after the op, that is, nothing anywhere else in the pre op scans and nothing outside the womb found during the op or in the tissue histology.

Then 115 , 1 week after completion of my radiotherapy  and 2 rounds of cisplatin.

My oncologist reckons the raise is probably due to the inflammation caused by the radiotherapy, ( and I have had a lot of abdominal and stomach discomfort,  sometimes pain, during the radiotherapy) but agrees the CA125 needs repeating in the next pre cycle test, and I will do all I can to get them to do it each time from then on, whatever the reading.

I know it's not a very reliable marker. As you say it goes up for all sorts of non cancer reasons. 

Hopefully after your low readings your slight raise is a blip, and they are looking after you properly with the scan, I do hope all is well for you. xx

Thank you Mrs woodentop

I am very happy that your scan was ok . When I go for blood tests, I always ask what blood tests I am having. I notice few times that they did not include the A125. My daughter had to go to the nurse and ask her to authorised . 

My scan was ok as well. That was 3 months ago. 

I am with UCH. My care was moved there because my local hospital messed me around for 2 years. I have been very upset. UcH have been great and have been looking after me very well. My cancer is high grade and stage 4. I had radical surgery. They removed 75% of omentom. My bladder needed repair as well. I have done well. Last scan showed no disease. I have an appointment on 6th August and they would like me to have scan before. 

I have been having lot of back pain and tummy pain but generally feel ok 

I am trying to change my diet at the moment. I have been having fresh garlic every morning with water. That has helped with inflammation. It leaves bit of smell in the mouth but chewing cardimon helps to reduce smell. I am trying to eat less meat and more plant food. 

It has been a tough year for me and my family. I am main carer for my husband. I get lot of help from my children especially from my daughter. 

Hope all will go well

best wishes

Rahman x

Sorry you've had such a bad year Rahman, but I'm glad your scan was good and you are being properly looked after now.

Thanks for the garlic tip, I like garlic, so will try that. I think you are right about more plant food. I'm going to go that way too.Plus fish, and chicken or turkey.

Best wishes 

Mrs Woodentop x

Hi

I am another of the exclusive serous carcinoma club and I’ve had my CA125  measured from the start in 2014. I’m now living with incurable cancer as it’s spread - I won’t bore you with the whole saga as it’s in my profile. 

You are quite right that CA125 is not a reliable measure. It’s a protein that all women produce in response to inflammation. A single reading doesn’t usually tell you much - it’s more about the trend. I tend to think of it as a red flag - when my CA125 goes up over a period of months, it won’t be long before the scab picks up cancer progression. There’s usually a lag of 4-6 months. Is that typical? I have no idea. I do know that it’s not worth getting hung up on small changes in the CA125. 

I hope this helps. I’m happy to try to answer any other questions you might have but  I am not a doctor. 

All the best 

Thanks Daloni,

That is really helpful.

All the very best x