CA125 test advice

[littlemissmonday]

Wondering if anyone can explain their experience of having the CA125 blood test and what their result was? Recently got mine back and have to be retested.

Sorry wrong category but can't find a suitable one

Hi OP
I was tested for that as, for reasons still unknown, my liver was enlarged a few years ago. CA125 was low but had a retest and back to normal on the retest .
There is cancer in my family and I had skin cancer so I went into panic mode, needlessly as it worked out .

Thanks for sharing.
Mines is marginally over, concerned as I've been diagnosed with IBS for the last year and now wondering if that's been a wrong diagnosis. My main issue is bloating.
Very scared and fed up.

I was tested after an ultrasound scan. I think it can be used to test for cysts, endometriosis etc. Mine came back as being normal (don't have exact results) but I had an 8cm cyst and really bad endo.

I have regular tests because I'm being monitored for an ovarian tumour which has a v small chance of coming back as cancer. Before the tumour was removed, my level was 130. Since then, it's been single figures. Normal is 35. But some people's normal might be 40, 45. It's not an exact science by any means.

It's not v reliable to diagnose ovarian cancer unless it's really high. Lots of false negatives and false positives. Can be raised because of infection, inflammation, endo. Unfortunately, some people have ov ca with normal levels.

But it's useful to signpost the need for further investigation, scans etc. 3 raised levels with an upward trend usually gets you an ultrasound.

Thanks for the replies ladies, sorry to hear you have to keep an eye on things but fingers crossed nothing ever returns!

I'm wishfully hoping that it's because I had my period while I got tested and had the tail end of a cold that has made my levels increase slightly above the 'norm'

I don't have any pains/period issues etc clear smear tests

It's good you're being tested. The IBS/ov-ca confusion does happen, but. usually it's when someone suddenly has IBS symptoms after the menopause. Most people are diagnosed much earlier. Late onset is unusual. So, if you're still having periods, it's more likely to be either IBS or ordinary gyne issues.

Btw - you might get more replies if you ask for this to be moved to General Health.

Thanks @Thymeout Im hoping to speak to my gp tomorrow as it was the nurse I spoke with about the results and ask for an examination and smear too, hopefully (not due one until June)

I've been having some issues with anemia of late, feels like I've not been away from the surgery in the last 3 weeks!

Thank you so much for your responses, face hugely helped.

(Also how do I asked for it to be moved🙈🥴)

I think you click on 'report' and get in touch that way. Glad to have helped.

Mine were mildly elevated before I had surgery for endometriosis

Hi there,

Just to let you know that we're moving this to General Health at the OP's request.

I had it done when I was admitted for severe abdominal pain and have a history of ovarian cysts. It came back with quite a high reading but they said it could be due to other factors and they wanted to repeat it. I was peri-menopausal and my periods were all over the place. They repeated it 2 weeks later and it came back with normal readings.

I later had a laparoscopy and they discovered I had extensive endometriosis which had caused adhesions. It was the only time I had suffered pain surprisingly as the endo never bothered me up until then or since.

Hope all is okay with you.

Mine was really high, caused by fibroids. It is not a reliable test for cancer in pre menopausal women, not at all, my consultant was very cross that my GP had even mentioned it as a possibility.

Thanks ladies. Spoke to the gp today who said I shouldn't be very concerned as it's only marginally above (it's 39 and norm in 35)
and I don't have pelvic pains etc it's

I hope it stops my worrying but I know it's going to be in the back of my mind until the next bloods.

Mine was more than 130 at its highest little. I wouldn't be worrying about 39.

@littlemissmonday

I too have IBS and was diagnosed after the blood tests .
Mine was very low , like yours, 42 or something I believe. I do have pelvic pains and pains in my sides where ovaries are (no appendix so its not that) and I have had scans, internal and outer, a colonoscopy and I am waiting now for the last resort, to see if its anything, of the camera down the throat appointment,

Mine was high and my GP has referred me for a pelvic scan. I didn’t quite understand why I was secretly tested for CA125 as the blood form was to test my full blood count, kidneys, ESR and CRP for abdominal distension. Is it normal that they would test for ovarian cancer when the GP didn’t request it? I can’t help thinking that the result might be someone else’s- wishful thinking.
I do have fibroids and suffer with ovarian cysts. I was also just finishing my period and suffering from flu/chest infection the day I had my bloods taken. Really panicking about the scan. The Dr said cancer is a possibility
@ flatpackbox did they discover why your level was raised?

I’m having one on Friday, along with a host of others, for hip and pelvic pain, bloating and irregular periods. Will keep you posted. Also having hip x-ray tomorrow

I don't think it's the best predictor - my mum's was fine and she still had ovarian cancer - found post hysterectomy as she was over 50 and had a large cyst. They decided to take it all out - bloods came back as normal so a 'normal' gynae surgeon did it - thankfully he was on the ball and sent off the washings - the washings from her stomach area came back with a 1C cancer.

If her bloods had been raised she would have been operated on by a specialist oncology gyanae - if that makes sense.