Avastin and CA125

[AndreeP]

Hi, I’m on Avastin Maintenance and noted that my CA125 has gone from 330 to 450. Should I be concerned or are there other reasons for the count to go up?

[Yoshbosh]

Hi AndreeP,

I think we are all told there are a lot of reasons as to why CA125 might change, but the reality is none of us really know. I think it’ll be a question for your oncologist- maybe they will offer you a scan to check?

Vicki x

[AndreeP in reply to Yoshbosh]

Thanks, Vicki, that’s what I thought, but I don’t see my oncologist for a week so am a little anxious.

[Yoshbosh in reply to AndreeP]

I know it is very hard not to worry, but a week isn’t a long time. One thing I have learnt is that there’s rarely a burning rush and weeks can go by without anyone in the medical profession being worried. It’s just hard for us patients to hold our nerve in the meantime.

My CA125 jumped up suddenly in June, and I have only just started second-line treatment (not saying that’s what I think will happen to you, just giving you an example!). In the 4 months, nothing really changed, and I could possibly have waited a bit longer, but the mental challenge was getting harder.

I hope your oncologist is helpful, and fingers crossed.

Vicki x

[AndreeP in reply to Yoshbosh]

Thanks Vicki. That’s the hardest part about this is the not knowing and not being able to determine for myself if the disease is progressing

[harpist_UK]

If you do a search on here of Avastin and CA125 you will find several threads on this - I remember them! It seems that CA125 can fluctuate on Avastin. I had quite a few ups and downs of CA125 but no actual disease progression on the scans, and made it to the end of the 18 lots of Avastin. If the CA125 consistently goes up then they will scan you to check if anything's going on. They also go on presence of any symptoms and how you are feeling generally.

[AndreeP in reply to harpist_UK]

Thanks very much. I appreciate the response. I will speak with my oncologist but this does make me feel better