CA-125 Results Went Up: Should I be concerned?

Diagnosed with OC in Feb 2022. I had chemo, surgery, more chemo and have continued on chemo since diagnosis. Meds have changed three times. My CA-125 has steadily risen since Oct 2023, when melanomas started popping out on me. Was on Avastin, Keytruda, & Cytoxan (started this cocktail in April 23). Had to stop Avastin for 8 wks due to melanoma surgeries in Nov 23 & Jan 24. Finally got back on full treatment in Feb 24. More melanomas. Avastin stopped again, as well as Cytoxan in July, for melanoma surgery. PET scans had been coming back with no activity up until end of May 24. Had PET scan first of Aug and there was "activity". Oncologist said drugs weren't working and we needed to change treatment. Choices were Taxol and Avastin, or Gemzar and Cisplatin. I opted to go with Gemzar/Cisplatin as I was told they would not have to stop the drugs if by chance any more melanoma surgeries came into play. By this this time I had gone five weeks with no treatment at all. I have had two cycles of treatments. Was due for third one today, but blood work was bad - low red and white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin. Cipro prescribed to ward off infections. Due to go in next week and hopefully will be able to get treatment. My CA-125 came back at 2,847, which is only 125 points from where it was when diagnosed. We did explore clinical trial options at UVA, but opted at this time to go with the Gemzar/Cisplatin. I am devastated by the CA-125 reading and don't know what to do. Hopefully I have provided enough details about this cancer journey, without writing a book about it. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Diagnosed with OC in Feb 2022. I had chemo, surgery, more chemo and have continued on chemo since diagnosis. Meds have changed three times. My CA-125 has steadily risen since Oct 2023, when melanomas started popping out on me. Was on Avastin, Keytruda, & Cytoxan (started this cocktail in April 23). Had to stop Avastin for 8 wks due to melanoma surgeries in Nov 23 & Jan 24. Finally got back on full treatment in Feb 24. More melanomas. Avastin stopped again, as well as Cytoxan in July, for melanoma surgery. PET scans had been coming back with no activity up until end of May 24. Had PET scan first of Aug and there was "activity". Oncologist said drugs weren't working and we needed to change treatment. Choices were Taxol and Avastin, or Gemzar and Cisplatin. I opted to go with Gemzar/Cisplatin as I was told they would not have to stop the drugs if by chance any more melanoma surgeries came into play. By this this time I had gone five weeks with no treatment at all. I have had two cycles of treatments. Was due for third one today, but blood work was bad - low red and white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin. Cipro prescribed to ward off infections. Due to go in next week and hopefully will be able to get treatment. My CA-125 came back at 2,847, which is only 125 points from where it was when diagnosed. We did explore clinical trial options at UVA, but opted at this time to go with the Gemzar/Cisplatin. I am devastated by the CA-125 reading and don't know what to do. Hopefully I have provided enough details about this cancer journey, without writing a book about it. Any suggestions? Thank you.

@jaynus55. I understand why the spike in your CA-125 is frightening and alarming. Frankly, I would feel the same. Anxiety causes us (me anyway) to not be able to see things objectively and so it’s difficult to put that CA-125 number in anything other than alarming. Since you are getting regular PET scans I recall that your doctors and other members in our Gynecological Cancers support group said that a PET scan is far more reliable. So, it’s good that you get these PET scans which reveal more reliable information as well as location of activity.

It sounds like your cancer care team is responsive and working with you. What do you think about getting another opinion at one of the locations suggested by @lathomasmd? Since your doctors suggested clinical trials at UVA (University of Virginia) then asking for a referral to a comprehensive cancer care center is a good idea. What do you think?

Diagnosed with OC in Feb 2022. I had chemo, surgery, more chemo and have continued on chemo since diagnosis. Meds have changed three times. My CA-125 has steadily risen since Oct 2023, when melanomas started popping out on me. Was on Avastin, Keytruda, & Cytoxan (started this cocktail in April 23). Had to stop Avastin for 8 wks due to melanoma surgeries in Nov 23 & Jan 24. Finally got back on full treatment in Feb 24. More melanomas. Avastin stopped again, as well as Cytoxan in July, for melanoma surgery. PET scans had been coming back with no activity up until end of May 24. Had PET scan first of Aug and there was "activity". Oncologist said drugs weren't working and we needed to change treatment. Choices were Taxol and Avastin, or Gemzar and Cisplatin. I opted to go with Gemzar/Cisplatin as I was told they would not have to stop the drugs if by chance any more melanoma surgeries came into play. By this this time I had gone five weeks with no treatment at all. I have had two cycles of treatments. Was due for third one today, but blood work was bad - low red and white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin. Cipro prescribed to ward off infections. Due to go in next week and hopefully will be able to get treatment. My CA-125 came back at 2,847, which is only 125 points from where it was when diagnosed. We did explore clinical trial options at UVA, but opted at this time to go with the Gemzar/Cisplatin. I am devastated by the CA-125 reading and don't know what to do. Hopefully I have provided enough details about this cancer journey, without writing a book about it. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Diagnosed with OC in Feb 2022. I had chemo, surgery, more chemo and have continued on chemo since diagnosis. Meds have changed three times. My CA-125 has steadily risen since Oct 2023, when melanomas started popping out on me. Was on Avastin, Keytruda, & Cytoxan (started this cocktail in April 23). Had to stop Avastin for 8 wks due to melanoma surgeries in Nov 23 & Jan 24. Finally got back on full treatment in Feb 24. More melanomas. Avastin stopped again, as well as Cytoxan in July, for melanoma surgery. PET scans had been coming back with no activity up until end of May 24. Had PET scan first of Aug and there was "activity". Oncologist said drugs weren't working and we needed to change treatment. Choices were Taxol and Avastin, or Gemzar and Cisplatin. I opted to go with Gemzar/Cisplatin as I was told they would not have to stop the drugs if by chance any more melanoma surgeries came into play. By this this time I had gone five weeks with no treatment at all. I have had two cycles of treatments. Was due for third one today, but blood work was bad - low red and white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin. Cipro prescribed to ward off infections. Due to go in next week and hopefully will be able to get treatment. My CA-125 came back at 2,847, which is only 125 points from where it was when diagnosed. We did explore clinical trial options at UVA, but opted at this time to go with the Gemzar/Cisplatin. I am devastated by the CA-125 reading and don't know what to do. Hopefully I have provided enough details about this cancer journey, without writing a book about it. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Diagnosed with OC in Feb 2022. I had chemo, surgery, more chemo and have continued on chemo since diagnosis. Meds have changed three times. My CA-125 has steadily risen since Oct 2023, when melanomas started popping out on me. Was on Avastin, Keytruda, & Cytoxan (started this cocktail in April 23). Had to stop Avastin for 8 wks due to melanoma surgeries in Nov 23 & Jan 24. Finally got back on full treatment in Feb 24. More melanomas. Avastin stopped again, as well as Cytoxan in July, for melanoma surgery. PET scans had been coming back with no activity up until end of May 24. Had PET scan first of Aug and there was "activity". Oncologist said drugs weren't working and we needed to change treatment. Choices were Taxol and Avastin, or Gemzar and Cisplatin. I opted to go with Gemzar/Cisplatin as I was told they would not have to stop the drugs if by chance any more melanoma surgeries came into play. By this this time I had gone five weeks with no treatment at all. I have had two cycles of treatments. Was due for third one today, but blood work was bad - low red and white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin. Cipro prescribed to ward off infections. Due to go in next week and hopefully will be able to get treatment. My CA-125 came back at 2,847, which is only 125 points from where it was when diagnosed. We did explore clinical trial options at UVA, but opted at this time to go with the Gemzar/Cisplatin. I am devastated by the CA-125 reading and don't know what to do. Hopefully I have provided enough details about this cancer journey, without writing a book about it. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Regarding seeing a PA rather than the doctor, that seems to be the norm in my area (for any kind of doc, not just oncologist). When I was first diagnosed, through the debulking surgery, and for several chemo treatments after that, I saw my oncologist. After that, I always see the PA before treatments, and only see the oncologist after a scan has been done. I think if I insisted on an appointment with the doctor, I could get it though, but I'm okay seeing the PA as I know any concerns will be discussed with the doctor. My CA-125 has been rising steadily since Oct last year, and no explanation so far. They tell me they are monitoring it, whatever that means. My doctor says they rely more on imaging, and since my last three PET scans have shown no sign of activity or new implants, she does not feel we need to change the course of treatment. But after my last CA-125 test last week, where it has risen to 295, I am concerned. I haven't done it yet, as I want to formulate some questions, but I will be sending a message to her on MyChart. Since I'm dealing with OC as well as melanomas that keep popping up (8 since October), it's a double whammy. My dermatologist has no explanation for so many melanomas coming out, as I have seen her regularly every six months for years for upper and lower body checks. I am now seeing her every 3 months (going for biopsy of four moles next week while still waiting to see surgeon for two she found last month). My oncologist does not feel there is any connection between OC and rising CA-125. I've read enough to know that a weakened immune system can cause melanomas, and that is probably what is driving mine (been on chemo over two years, plus got bad sunburns in my youth). I am still looking for reason for my rising CA-125 and haven't found an answer yet.

I was diagnosed with Stage III-C ovarian cancer in February 2022. I had complete hysterectomy, appendix removal, and partial stomach lining (omentum) removal in May 2022. Still in chemo (on my third combination of drugs - Avastin, Keytruda, and Cytoxan). This has been working well for me overall. I feel fine, and my PET scans show no activity or new implants. But, my CA-125 has been steadily rising since last October 2023. At that time I was diagnosed with three melanomas on my left leg. In December 2023, I was diagnosed with two melanomas and one borderline melanoma on upper body. Last month, I was diagnosed with two melanomas, one on back and one on arm. My CA-125 was in normal range until the melanomas started popping up. It has steadily increased since October and is now at 295 as of this week. My most recent PET scan, last week, indicated no activity or implants visible. My oncologist is monitoring the CA-125, but says they rely on imaging more than the blood test. It still worries me that CA-125 keeps rising. There doesn't seem to be any connection between melanomas and increasing CA-125. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? As I indicated, I feel fine, no pain, do normal activities; just some fatigue. Thanks for any input.

My mom is 2 years and 3 months post total hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. This past winter she had a perforated bowel which required her to have a temporary colostomy. She is scheduled to have reversal surgery next month. Her oncologist had sent her for regular follow up blood work and a CT scan but that was delayed because she came down with COVID. She did have the blood work done in April and her tumor marker was 30. She had repeat blood work done on Monday and the result is now 61. It this an indication that the cancer is back or can this just be because of inflammation due to her colostomy surgery?