ca125

Hi! I just recieved my fourth ca 125 result and I had some questions. When I had my tumor (serous,borderline) my ca 125 was 34. Three months later it was 9, three months after that 8, now another three it was 10. Are the numbers supposed to go up and down? When should I be concerned? Is it normal for my number to be at 10. I have discussed this with my doctor and I know the answers but it's helps to hear it from other people. I get so scared. Thanks for the input.

My gyn/onc told me that ca125 bounce around. They are influenced by several things. He said he looks for a trend. I hope your doc answered all your questions well. Take care, Judy

I've heard you could do two blood draws back to back and submit them and get slightly different readings. A trend is the key--or a doubling. Mine got to 8.6 during chemo, then snaked around up and down to 14 and then went to 8. A 2 point difference isn't to become excited about--could be even in calibrating testing equipment. My non-medical advice? Relax!

Hi Beavis...
After i had my hysterectomy, but before my first chemo, my ca125 number was 454... after my first chemo it went down to 43 and then steadily went down after that.. MY oncologist told me that 35 is the normal number and that anything under 20 is excellent. I just finished my last chemo treatment and my number is down to 10... however, she says not to dwell on a number...I is keeping the number stable that is more important. Whatever the stable number is is the number that is right for your body. She said that if a ca125 test was to be done on her, and she knows that she does not have cancer, her number could be 15, 16, 17,,,and it would still be fine..
so my advice to you as she gave it to me was RELAX and not dwell on the number.
Take care..
Rosalie

Hiya Beavis!

Yeap, yeap and yeap to what the other gals have said.

Prior to my surgery my CA125 was 656, since completing my rounds of chemo my levels have fluctuated between 14 and 16 consistantly.

I remember a conversation with my oncology nurse who was telling me about another patient of theirs whose "normal" level was closer to 50! It hadn't ever gone down below that level for her and she WAS in remission soooo yeap, everyone's "normal" is different. I know easier to say than think about in your own situation but...

Congrats on the GREAT test results!!!

{{hugs}}

Vicki

s Beavis

That darn ca125 is such a source of anxiety for all of us. My own fluctuates a bit every three months. 8, 10, 8, 12, 10. My gyn onc has told me that if they take two samples from the same vial of blood, that there can be a four point variance. Sounds reassuring to me!!! Relax, I think you are doing just fine.

karenann