Blood test - tumour markers

[DoublePlease]

Hello

Wondered if anyone could give any information. I've been googling but we all know that only panics us more!

I gave birth almost 5 years ago. It was a traumatic birth, forceps, tear etc. For the next year I was in and out of hospital for Botox treatment for fissures and a fistula.

After a couple of years of putting up with bladder issues, I finally plucked up the courage last year to see my GP who referred my for physio treatment. I have been attending physio for over a year now, working on the pelvic floor.

Sadly there's very little improvement. I have a rectocele and bladder/uterus prolapse. Not severe enough it's out of the body but it's there.

Yesterday I was advised to go back to physio in 6 weeks but also to see my GP about being referred to a gynaecologist and to get booked for an ultrasound.

A few years ago they flagged up I had a cyst on my right ovary but it was never followed up again.

The physio wanted to rule out that anything else could be hindering my recovery. When I walk I feel pressure on my bladder. I recently went to the doctors about chest pain on and off. I constantly feel bloated, sore and out of breath even when resting. I am up to date with my smears. My BMI is higher than it should be. I have a physical job and I am only 31 years old. I know age is on my side.

But I can't help but feel concerned.

I saw my gp today who was happy to refer me to the above. She felt my stomach, was reassured but did no internal exam. I am booked for blood tests on Monday and she mentioned to see if there were any tumour markers in my blood and also to check my iron levels for anaemia.

Any one had similar experiences and what were your outcomes? I imagine they are being cautious but something is niggling me due to the constant bloating and shortness of breath too.

Thanks for reading such a long post!

Anyone?

Sorry OP, I don't have any experience if this but it sounds like you've had a really rough time and I hope they can get to the bottom of it for you .

Just bumping for you in case anyone has anything more useful to add.

Was one of the blood tests to measure your Ca125? It's used in relation to possible ovarian cancer. It's a good thing you're having it along with the ultrasound because it will help them to rule out anything amiss with your ovaries. BUT don't get alarmed if it's above normal. It can be raised for benign issues, too, such as infection, inflammation and endometriosis. It's a useful guide to prompt further investigation, or, if you've been diagnosed, to see if treatment is working. Mine was 5X normal because a v large ovarian tumour was rubbing against other organs, but it wasn't cancer and reverted to normal as soon as the tumour was removed.

Fingers crossed they can get this sorted for you.

@Thymeout is absolutely right so please be reassured - your doc is following correct & common protocol and as it's probably a ca125 test the result is a good indicator of several (benign) conditions that you could have (in addition to it being used as an indicator of ovarian cancer, which is probably what comes up when you google!)

I had ovarian cysts and a small fibroid (which I've had for years) when my levels were raised. So try not to be alarmed if the results do come back with raised levels. You really do need a scan to rule fibroids or cysts in or out (endometriosis won't show up). It's also good that your iron levels are being checked. Ask when you get the results if your serum ferritin (iron stores rather than circulating iron) was tested as low levels can cause similar symptoms to anaemia. I'd also be asking for thyroid, vit D and B12 tests if they've not done them already.

Finally, if the physio isn't addressing the pelvic floor issues then I really recommend looking into the exercises by biomechanist Katy Bowman (google her).

I hope you get some answers and feel better! X