Raised ovarian marker ca125

[Honeybird89]

I've stupidly been on Google. I wish I hadn't. I went to see the gp recently about bad reflux and some bloating and general stomach discomfort. Blood tests done and was told I needed a US of my ovaries sooner rather than later as my ovarian marker was 120.

Ovary scan was clear, repeat bloods show marker still high, over 50.

Been told to have more bloods taken in 6 weeks.

I've got myself so worried, does anyone have experience of raised ca125 and it not being cancer? Tbh I'm more worried about my other symptoms and concerned that if it is a cancer its somewhere other than my ovaries and they won't thoroughly look. I have stomach tenderness but it's higher up.

I had this with a large fibroid.

Hi @Honeybird89 , your CA125 level can be raised for several reasons unrelated to ovarian cancer. It's great that your scan was clear, so try not to worry too much. CA 125 levels being raised wouldn't be due to cancer anywhere else as far as I understand.

I have this with endometriosis chocolate cysts. They rushed me through scans although I have a history of endo. Then when it was confirmed I have a 9cm cyst it was oh yeah you're on a year's waiting list

A fibroid or endo would have been picked up on the US wouldn't it?

I am really worried, I've had a couple of close family members who had cancer and showed no sign until it was too late and they passed so quickly. One wasn't even 40, it was awful and i cant help but be terrified theres something bad hiding.

Yes, I had it with an endometrioma on one of my ovaries - I forget the exact reading but it was well over 100. Your body is simply responding to something unexpected being there, it isn't necessarily cancerous.

Mine is regularly over 400 with a large fibroid. My consultant was really cross the first time I was referred to him and my then GP had mentioned the C word.

Google a bit more if that’s your thing, I’m sure you’ll find something more reassuring if you search for benign causes of raised CA125.

Endometriosis can't usually be seen on an ultrasound as far as I know.

Yes me this week

Sorry, I'm on the app so testing it sent because it doesn't usually.
I had an ovary scan this week for bloods of 40. Not high but over the 35 so had to be done. I do have an issue at the moment with uti symptoms but no uti when they do the cultures. The lady scanning said it can be loads of things like infection etc but so far they've scanned bladder, kidneys and ovaries and all good.
I believe it also depends where you are in your menstrual cycle as this can elevate it temporarily. When I googled the numbers are quite positive in that you would expect to see them elevated to hundreds and thousands if there was an issue. Obviously don't know how true this is but try not to worry. Or google! Good luck with scans and tests

It can, rarely, be other cancer; primary peritoneal cancer for example. Insist on a CT scan and press your GP to fast track you through to all relevant tests.
having said that, PPC etc are very rare and the CA much more likely to be an inflammatory response to something else. Good luck.

I think it would be much higher if it was cancer or something serious. I had similarly high levels after experiencing a lot of pain for a long time and symptoms of ovarian cancer and they found nothing. It did stay elevated for a year and the last test it was around 50 so had decreased quite a bit. There was absolutely nothing wrong that they found. Even went as far a laporoscopy and it was perfect in there so I wouldn't lose any sleep. easier said than done.

It is never a stand alone cancer diagnostic, although I'm sure I was told that levels over 200 in women who are post menopausal are often a sign of malignancy.

Mine has been consistently high (3-400) for 15 years.