AIBU to ask if anyone knows anything about the CA125 marker? Just had my results in.

[mscongeniality]

Just a bit worried as a few weeks ago I paid for a comprehensive private health checkup and they tested for all sorts of things including ovarian cancer risk.
The results just came in and they've marked me in the Red range for the CA125 marker, my result is 49.
For the last few months I've had undiagnosed lower back pain and some other weird gyne symptoms, no pain anywhere else though.
I had a lower abdominal scan a few weeks ago and everything looked fine, and saw my GP again a few days ago and she's referred me to physio for the back pain as she doesn't think its gyne related.

Anyone have any info about this? Kinda worried now

Hello, the CA125 Marker can be raised for many reasons although I know you are probably concerned about the possibility of ovarian cancer. I can only advise on my mums experience with the marker, she had a level in the thousands and was experiencing, constipation and also constant urge to pass urine, after a scan and other tests she had surgery for ovarian cancer. The oncologist told me a normal marker level would be about 35 so yours being 49 isnt really a cause for concern but I hope you sort out your back pain

Also I have googled and a normal level is 46 so just 3 over isnt too worrying.

Also found this that may be helpful although your marker isnt that high

Benign conditions associated with elevated CA 125 levels include the following:

Endometriosis : 88% of cases
Cirrhosis: 40%-80% of cases
Acute peritonitis: 75% of cases
Acute pancreatitis: 38% of cases
Acute pelvic inflammatory disease: 33% of cases
First trimester of pregnancy: 2%-24% of cases
Nondisease state: 0.6%-1.4% of healthy individuals

Please don't worry, the CA125 marker is not totally reliable as an indicator for ovarian cancer as simple infections can increase the level. (The normal range is up to the early 30's.) Also as you have had a clear scan, I agree with your GP that you will be fine.

I was diagnosed with OC five years ago and had absolutely no symptoms until the tumour was knocking seven bells out of my ovary and I was in agony. There's a reason they call it the whispering cancer. Take care.

Don’t panic. Other things raise it. Mine went high (I think about 71) during an episode of sepsis caused by a misplaced coil (accompanied by lots of fluid in my tubes). High enough for the initial investigations to include a differential (though unlikely) diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Thanks for your responses ladies.

I've just been reading up on it some more now and it says the levels can even be elevated if you're on your period which I was right in the middle of when I was tested. Maybe that could be contributing? I'm only 32 but still old enough to be cautious so I will have to pursue it with GP just to give me peace of mind.
My mom had really bad fibroids which led to a hysterectomy in mid 40's, but GP said my scan was clear.

This is good example of why too much info is No Information at all. You've gained nothing useful out of this factoid.

It can mean anything from a period, pregnancy, minor ailments through to more worrying ones.

Follow it up, of course but try not to worry. It's likely that this isn't going to be a big issue.