Hi there, anyone shed some light as the the “norm” on this one? Mine has gone up from 33 to 69 and it’s the first time it’s done such a giant leap. Should i be worried?
Thanks
K
Hi,
The CA 125 is known to be unreliable and should never been used alone as a diagnostic tool. If you are having ovarian screening then you should be having a scan as well as the blood test. A raised reading doesn’t necessarily mean anything sinsiter, changes in hormones and ovarian cysts can be the cause as was the case for me.
Hope this has helped xx
As far as I know, CA15-3 (and maybe CA27-29) are the tumour markers for breast cancer. CA125 is the one they check when investigating ovarian cysts (I had a couple of those - benign - about 7 years before my bc).
Thanks for your feedback. I have an ovarian cyst, have had since 2000 and had a laperoscopy (sp?) but it went wrong and I ended up with a colostomy bag for 5 months, as I got peritinitus and almost died. Thankfully they mended my bowel back but the cyst is still there…So you can imagine I don’t want any more surgery in that department.
Let’s hope the CA125 is just a glitch…should know on Friday.
Thanks again Karen
AAAAH - Karen you’ve had a shocking experience, yes indeed we hope that the cyst itself isn’t causing problems. Will be thinking of you on Friday.
Hi,
Lezignac2 the best of luck with your treatment, sorry I cannot help. Hope you don’t mind me asking the experts on here, because I am having tumour markers followed and am not really sure what they are about. They check my Ca 15 - 3. From my chemistry days I thought it was Calcium from the periodic table!! idiot. Anyone know what levels are normal? I was told that they take longer to come back so you hear a cycle behind. Mine have dropped but not by much, should I be worried that was from dose 1 to dose 2.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Lily x
Lily, your marker CA15.3 is an indicator to whats going on so my specialist told me. She said it works in 88% of cases - so again stats!
I told her i was worried after my last one went from 9 to 10 and she said it was nothing, forget that. She told me and its also written on my test papers that the normal is anything up to 30. After 30 they would investegate.I am just speaking about the CA15.3 not the CA-125 which i have no experience with.
I have been having my marker checked every 3 months for the last couple of years but i think its the norm for them to do this in France.
I forgot to say lily, that she also told me that markers can suddenly go up and down, one test might go up to say 25 the next could be 12 so i suppose if they had a high result for afew times on the go they might investegate.
Good luck to you all with tests.
Pineapple, do you live in France? I do too - where are you?
Will let you know how I get on tomorrow.
Cheers again
Karen
Ps Just checked my results sheet and my CA 15-3 is 18, up from 16 and it tells me the acceptable level is 31, but I’m guessing that this is all to do with age, weight etc etc.
Karen i am in Brittany where are you?
I’ve just looked at the Blood Test - ranges for etc…on Wikypeidia (sp?) and it shows you what the upper limits are for all tests. The CA 125 is 35, mine is 69
CA 15.3 is 28
K, i have just got my last test result out it reads
normal below 31.3
maybe different countries use different margins?
Hi
I’m down south, nr montauban in tarn et garonne and it’s pouring - nice…! it’s been so hot.
will keep you posted and good luck with you tests too
K
P
forgot to ask, are you on facebook?
My daughter put me on but dont know how to use it!! too technical for my brain.
lots of people on here started Breast Buddies, so if you get on look me up
sweeting
Cheers
K
Hi, what is this all about?
I’m finished all my treatment now, but I remember asking my BC nurse about tumour markers and she said they were only really spoken about when people had secondaries. My oncologists have never broached this subject with me.
Hi,
not sure whether I am consoled or not as my Ca 15-3 started at 25.3 before chemo. It has gone down to 24.8 after dose one so I guess that is in the right direction but not dropping enough for my liking. Will see what the results are after dose 2 which I don’t get until I go in for dose 4. I am going to try not to worry about these because she did tell me they are not always indicative and they see wildly different results in people, or is she just trying not to worry me?
Thanks so much for the info.
Karen I don’t blame you for not wanting more treatment, you have had a tough time, poor you. Hope they get you sorted soon
Hugs
Lily x
I guess it depends on who you see and where you are? My Onc has always done “markers!” and here in France they are hot on doing bloods to check these every 6 months at the very least. I am also guessing that it’s also to do with what your dx is?
K
Lezignac2,
I am in the middle of chemo at present, so all the blood tests are done every 3 weeks, perhaps they take longer to register changes. Thanks for your help and sorry I got your thread distracted by my worries
Lots of luck to you
Lily x