Fluctuating ca125 levels

[emanticoff]

Stage 2A ovarian cancer, going on 4 th chemo treatment. At diagnosis my ca125 was 34 . After surgery 18 then 12, 10, 11 and now 12. Its weird because my level was 10 one day then the next 11. Then 3 weeks later 12. Do your level fluctuate on chemo. Im scared. Doc is not phased by it. Any one elses levels fluctuate on chemo?

[Lizz49]

Hello there,

I’m sure a fluctuation by one or two points is nothing to worry about, some ladies fluctuate more than that even during chemo but as long as it’s not excessive and the general trend is that the level is always within the desired range it should be fine.

I’m currently on chemo and haven’t had my CA 125 taken during it, my onc said only once at the beginning and then she will take it again at the end of the treatment which is in 1 weeks time....I havent thought about it really and was just glad that after surgery it was greatly reduced...I guess I will find out next week if it has gone up again!! I’m glad really as didn’t want to become fixated on it (easier said than done I know!) and if it’s never taken then I can never know! I’m just hoping the chemo is doing it’s thing and that all will be well. Stay positive and good luck for the rest of your chemo!

Liz Xx 💖

[emanticoff in reply to Lizz49]

Thank you for replying. Your lucky you dont have to see your levels. I have a patient portal and i see all my blood work. They take it twice every 3 weeks. Wish they wouldnt. If you dont mind me asking, what stage and grade are you? I have endometriod adencarcinoma. Its a subtype of ovarian cancer.

[Lizz49 in reply to emanticoff]

Hi again,

I’m stage 3b clear cell type. I guess different oncs work in different ways but I’m glad I don’t get to worry about it whilst going through chemo... I just know that after my hysterectomy my CA125 dropped to 8 so I was happy about that. I’m sure you’ve nothing to worry about your levels are very low so the chemo must be doing it’s thing!! It’s a stresssful time but it will soon all be behind you (and me too!) take care xx

[Susansew in reply to emanticoff]

I had the same cancer. CA125 before every chemo, every three weeks. Your numbers were almost exactly my numbers. Those numbers are fine. Now if it goes 11, 17, 30 and so on, that is an upwards trend but still in normal range and they may begin to watch that. But small fluctuations back and forth mean nothing and you are in normal range.

[Janet235]

I've given up fretting about CA 125 levels. Yesterday I was told it had dropped from 4000 in March to my lowest of 271 a month ago ( 4 th line chemo treatment ) now creeping up again ,401. This is how it goes for me

So much variation between us all... you have been lucky to remain within normal levels... no wonder your doctor isn't fazed by your numbers, but he should be more reassuring...

Janet 🌈

[bamboo89]

I had a chat with my oncologist this week about CA125 - she told me that it does fluctuate even when you're not on chemo - you could take it one day and it might be, say, 15, and the next it might be 11 or 18, so its almost like a screenshot of what it's doing at the moment they take the blood. They tend to look for overall trends rather than a single result - if its doubling every few days or monthly, they worry about that, but minor fluctuations they ignore. The CA125 is also a marker for other inflammatory processes in the body, its not only associated with OC.

[emanticoff in reply to bamboo89]

Thank you

[tarney]

Hello emanticoff - Don't panic. I have been told that CA125 levels can fluctuate, especially depending on the type of drug you are receiving. I am stage 3 OC diagnosed in 2015 and am now on a second line treatment of carbo/doxil. My CA125 skyrocketed to 585 recently, then went down to 225, and I am waiting for another result today. I am relatively asymptomatic and am expecting to go on a PARP inhibitor after this. My onc also is not phased by this and says the CT scan is much more important reflection of what is going on. The CA125 only adds to the picture. I feel that good nutrition can also aid the process, i.e. plant based, whole foods, limited dairy and meat. My best wishes to you. Stay calm.

[MH500]

I find since going into first line remission 15 months ago my CA125 ranges between 8 - 15. It even went to 19 once but next time was back to 9, it’s normal to fluctuate a few points. The reason to worry is if it kept going on an upward trend and out of normal range.

Xx

[emanticoff in reply to MH500]

Tgank you

[Maus123]

My ca125 holds rock stable before/during chemo.. at about 100 . Med team is definitely not phased by variances of a few points back or forth. Also, I've been told the number can vary somewhat depending on which lab receives and analyses the blood work.

All the best with the last few chemo doses. Maus

[AMCSCOT]

Hi, Mine fluctuated mid chemo treatments too by a few points. It's normal they said and nothing to worry about. That was 3 years ago and I too was Stage 2a.

[emanticoff in reply to AMCSCOT]

Thanks for the reply. How are you doing these days. Are you still Ned. Or are you cured. My doc said stage 2a can be cured.