C125 results

[doreenharwood]

Hi I got my results for my C 125 tests and they say it is 2700 this seems so high to me I have not yet started treatment. My chemo starts on Wednesday 20th . Does anyone else have such a high result and if so did it go down after chemo as its worrying me now ?

[Hidden]

The fact that your count is so high could be because of inflammation and not your cancer. Fibroids, endemetriosis and other benign conditions can coexist with oc. However, I know a number of women who had a very high reading before their chemo began and then it dropped significantly once treatment started and they felt very well afterwards. I don't have an abnormal reading at all though my cancer is at an advanced stage. Not all ovarian/peritoneal cancers can be monitored by this method. From my point of view, I'm glad that I don't have the CA125 thing to think about and, instead, just watch out for symptoms and get monitored by my consultant every few months or so. There's evidence to suggest that woman don't make any gains at all by doctors responding to the test and placing women on chemo on the basis of numbers alone. I'm not without my own anxieties. When I'm having a bad day, I worry in my own way. I wish you well with your treatment and good thoughts go your way.

[nandi]

As TinaB said, I have heard of many women with ver high numbers who had a big drop in CA125 once chemo started. CA125 seems to be very individual, mine is a good marker for me and normal for me is very low. Once you get started and it goes down you will find your normal.

Good luck

[doreenharwood]

Thank you ladies you have both made me feel better. Hopefuliy once I start chemo my levels will go down. I just want to get this all done and dusted by Christmas x x

[MargaretJ]

My ca 125 was 11,000 at diagnosis, went down to 6 after 1st round chemo, up to 250 9 months later, did not respond to cisplatin but after my last op it is down to 6 again. My cancer secretes and CA125 is a good monitor for me, a good thing as I keep imagining symptoms and a falling or low CA 125 reassures me. It also enabled me to choose to stop the cisplatin which was making me feel ill and was not shrinking the last tumour.

My GP and my oncologist have been very good at letting me see the graphs so I can see the levels rising or falling. I find this helpful but I know that not everyone does.

Margaret

[Suzy]

Mine was 3,600 before treatment and regularly goes back up similarly high . Some of us produce a lot of inflammation (in my case arthritis )

I do believe that CA 125 is a good marker for me but I know that the figures are unique to me . I keep a speadsheet of all my blood results and have them taken every three weeks

You will hear other women worrying about MUCH lower figures ....... but they probably do need to as they can chart their unique figures ,which will be very different. I never get into low figures High figures do not worry me ..... but a rapid rise does - That is a signal to me to check other things .

See if you can persuade your GP to regularly check your CRP . That is another very good marker but not all GPs will do it so you may need to find to a private clinic

I have just started my 3rd round of chemo and have felt and looked good throughout . Monitor carefully but avoid panic

[Hidden]

Hi Doreen

Just to say I am thinking of you, and hope all goes well on Wednesday

love x G x

[buddy707]

Hi,

My ca125 has always been high before starting my chemo usually anything between 4,000 and 9,000 but comes down quite quickly and i usually feel really well good luck for Wednesday

Luv Jan x

[LizK]

My CA125 was 2500 last December and fell to 550 after a debulking hysterectomy in January. It's continued to fall and was down to 20 last week after my sixth session of chemo. The consultant says it's a good marker for me but it isn't for everyone. He also kept telling me not to get too worried about the levels - easier said than done!!

Good luck.

Liz X

[doreenharwood]

A big thank you to everyone who answered my question re C125 levels. I think by this time next year I too will be an expert and hopefully be able to help newbees like myself. Well just got back from Maidstone hospital where I had my kidney function test, and chat with the nurse re tomorrow when I have my 1st chemo. I felt myself welling up when she said about my hair falling out, like all women it seems the worst thing ever. But putting it contex I guess its not the worse thing that can happen. So here goes short hair. PS my name is Babs not Doreen that is just my screen name because when I joined it said dont use your real name, so I chose Doreen which was my mums name. x x x I will let you all know how it goes tomorrow.

[jurassic]

Dear Babs,

Hope your chemo went o.k. today and was not as bad as you were expecting.

Love Marilyn

[Leo2327]

Hi when I first got diagnosed with ovarian cancer mine was 3500 and after chemo and surgery I have been to see my consultant and my ca125 is 13 I got diagnosed may 2022 and I am doing great so please hang in there