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CA-125 Results Went Up: Should I be concerned?
Gynecologic Cancers | Last Active: Jun 9 2:39am | Replies (51)Comment receiving replies
My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 Ovarian cancer at the age of 75. Her CA 125 levels was 577 and she had tumors and enlarged lymph nodes all over her thoracic area. After 6 round of Chemo the growth of the tumors stop and started shrinking and her CA 125 level went to 13.9. Over the past 6 months the CA125 levels started rising again. A CT was done and no change in tumor size or lymph nodes. They are now up to 455. I asked her oncologist if they should do a CT of the neck and brain but he said it is very rare that ovarian cancer rarely goes to the brain, but he has offered not any explanation as to why her levels keep rising. I would appreciate any information concerning this matter.
Replies to "My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 Ovarian cancer at the age of 75. Her CA..."
@christyhh and @1mbaldy, I encourage you to also see this related discussion:
- CA-125 Results Went Up: Should I be concerned? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ca-125-results-rose/
Tumor markers, such as CA-125, alone are not enough information to make conclusions, but can indicate the need for further investigation. @1mbaldy, you're right that this is a reminder to keep asking questions.
Christy, did your mom have further testing? Was any explanation offered in the meantime?
I know it's been a year, but I just joined here and saw your post. I know it's a year later, but I did want to comment on one thing you mentioned. The oncologist said it was very rare that ovarian cancer to to the brain. That may be true, but it can happen, especially if your mother had enlarged lymph nodes. My brother had Stage IV bladder cancer and enlarged lymph nodes. Did chemo for little over a year. The last three CT scans he had were "clean". Then he started having balance issues and falling. Took him to ER when things got really bad. They did MRI and found tumor mass at base of brain and it was inoperable. He passed two months later. His oncologist told us, after it was found, that it was rare to spread to brain. Because of my concern, I advised my oncologist (I have Stage III-C OC) and she scheduled an MRI of neck and brain. Mine came out okay, but I still plan on asking for another one at some point, just in case. Because it's rare, they just don't regularly schedule scans of the brain - just the area where your cancer started. It seems once it's in the lymph nodes, it can go anywhere at anytime.
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Hi christyhh. I was also diagnosed with ovarian cancer when I was 76 — in fall of 2021. My CA 125 has been measured and, like your mother’s, my CA 125 values do not seem to coordinate with the amount of cancer found in my CT scans. I have been told by my oncologist that CA 125 is not always a perfectly accurate measure of the amount of my ovarian cancer. An increased CA, 125 he said, could, for example, reflect an inflammation rather than ovarian cancer growth. Nevertheless, CA, 125 is measured every time I have an infusion of chemotherapy drugs. Be sure to keep after your mother’s oncologist to get it clear what value testing for CA 125 is in guiding your her treatment. You have inspired me to ask questions again!! 🙂 Good luck. Marian