Hi everyone,

[SEckett]

My Ca125 after my op is now 37. That’s after 4 chemotherapy’s. I read on here that others dropped so much lower than mine. I still have 2 chemotherapy’s to go. Is everyone’s Ca125 different? Sheenagh x

[Rai_Nakoa]

Hi Sheenagh!You are correct that everyone’s can be different…. There are many ladies on here that were diagnosed at stage 3&4 and yet their CA125 was still under 35 and in the normal range. It then is not a marker they can follow to see if there are reductions or increases that may indicate progress or reccurrance.

Your doing amazing and that is definitely progress as you will have inflammation from the surgery that may keep your CA125 from dropping more (or possibly increase while healing).

My CA125 was at 245 after all 6 cycles of chemo… I then had my surgery, and it reduced to only 55 at the 6 week mark post surgery ( I healed very quickly with no complications and was even golfing at 4 weeks post surgery…so thought it would be lower by that time to be honest).

I have had no chemo or further treatments since surgery (with the exception that I am now on Naraparib)… and it is still reducing each week. At 3 months post surgery, I am now down to 26!!! (My Ca125 at diagnoses was 13,061, and only reduced to 1159 after 4 cycles of chemo…)

I am due for bloodwork and review again next week … so anticipating it may be lower once again.

You will read, hear, and be told all the time to not focus or stress about your CA125 number as it’s not a reliable marker for everyone. That being said, I know that I get quite anxious about what mine will be every time I have it tested 😬😬😬.

Not being concerned with the number is really easier said than done, and I’m sure we all do it… now I find my mind wondering what my CA125 level would have been prior to having cancer??? Maybe mid 20’s is the lowest it will ever be??? Or could I possibly ever get down to less than 20???? What would have been a normal number for me??? SEE… not focusing on it is so much easier said than being done 😂

Wishing you continuous progress!!

Virtual hugs…

Trish

[delia2]

Hi. As Trish said CA 125 is highly individual and varied. Mine is too low to be a marker but after surgery it was the highest it’s ever been at 20, probably from the surgery itself. So don’t worry too much right now. Take care! Cx

[Jacky5]

My Ca125 went up after surgery and I was told it was normal and due to the inflammation. It came back down a few weeks after and with my last doses of chemo.

All the best.

L x

[Lyndy]

They are all different but low is still good! I would be relieved and confident in the knowledge that your remaining chemo will reduce it even more!

[Cumbrianlass5]

Everybody is different, but 37 sounds good to me. Hope things keep being successful for you. Best wishes x

[SEckett in reply to Cumbrianlass5]

Hi Cumbrianlass5,

I hope things are good with you. I have my chemotherapy next Friday that will be number 5. Had surgery after the 4th. I’m bit worried as covid is ramping up in our hospital.Sending you lots of love Sheenagh x

[Cumbrianlass5 in reply to SEckett]

Yes it seems to be here in Cumbria too. But our hospitals are keeping covid patients, and the staff dealing with them, in very different sections of hospitals. Love and best wishes x

[Cher96]

Hi SEI had 4 chemos prior to surgery and my CA125 went down to 45. After surgery, my oncologist said it would rise, and it did to 125. I’ve had 3 more post surgery chemos and the CA 125 has gone down to 53. 🤷‍♀️Go figure. Now I’m just waiting to see what happens without chemo and only on avastin. Everyone is different on this crazy cancer journey. I wonder if mine will ever go down below 35. I think as long as it goes down, the numbers aren’t that important. Good luck

Cher96

[testarossa71]

Hi, my CA125 pre-op was just under 1000. After 6 chemo sessions, it had dropped to 56. Some months on, and several lots of maintenance treatment later, it’s still stubbornly hovering in the mid-50s. It won’t drop.

I accept this, because CA125 is a funny old thing in terms of accurately ‘measuring’ cancer, and I have faith that if the number stays stable while I am on maintenance treatment, the the cancer is probably stable too.

Have faith. Sending love x