Elevated CA125

To the best of my knowledge, there are no great scans or tests for ovarian cancer, which is why it is often diagnosed in later stages. I guess I would want to know how big it has to be for CT to pick it up

I was just reading my email and saw this article and thought of your posting. I know your concern is metastasis, but you'd also want to rule out ovarian cancer...especially with a first degree relative with it.

https://www.practiceupdate.com/c/76907/2/1/?elsca1=emc_enews_daily-digest&elsca2=email&elsca3=practiceupdate_onc&elsca4=oncology&elsca5=newsletter&rid=MTMwMzczODQ4NTI3S0&lid=10332481

Hoping your rise is not found to have any concerning reasons, and hopefully someone who's experienced it can chime in. Since I saw the article and thought of your post, I wanted to share it.

I did not send it to add worry, but thought it was relevant. I did some more digging, and it looks like secondary breast cancers (not sure if they are including metastasis) are included in their numbers, so though they are still disconcerting, 17% on top of breast cancers is not as bad as including them. Hoping the docs can give you a possible reason for the tumor marker, or reassess it to see which direction it's heading.

My twin had a 7cm mass discovered because she "felt funny" in that area...ultrasound and colonoscopy had them worried it was cancer. Her ca-125 was at 49, which at her age, was considered "danger" zone though for younger gals, that is fine. They were convinced she had cancer. She had a radical hysterectomy and it was all b-9. No cancer.

I did just read an interesting study that taking uterus AND ovaries had no dramatic impact on future dementia issues, while taking one or the other, increased risk. In case you are forced to have the oopherectomy, there may be a slight silver lining. We know how these studies go....but better than something icky.

Good luck to you.

My CA125 test came back as 4 points above normal when I had a ping pong ball sized tumor in me.

Mom2fourplusmore:

Sorry for not clarifying, this was my primary tumor. I have not had a recurrence yet. I found the tumor two years ago when it was 0.4cm. It was misdiagnosed as benign and I was told I didn't need any follow up testing. It was not until I looked down in the shower earlier this year and saw a curve in my breast that had not previously been there that I began to think I should be rechecked. I had the CA125 test after I was diagnosed. It was my only tumor marker that was off.

I just finished chemotherapy and had surgery and I will be monitored with bi annual tumor marker testing but being my tumor was the size it was and my CA125 was only slightly elevated, I don't have much faith the test will catch anything while it's still small. My MO has offered to do scans though if I want, which is nice. I understand not wanting to do scans regularly for some patients. For some, the risk of cancer from regular CT, PET or bone scans would eventually their risk of recurrence of the breast cancer.