Some information provided by the Mayo Clinic.

The CA-125  is a test that is used to measure the level of CA-125, a protein (cancer antigen 125) in your blood. CA-125 levels can provide important insight to the growth of ovarian cancer cells within your body since elevated levels of CA-125 are often in higher-than-normal amounts in the blood of women with ovarian cancer.

Overall, more than 80 percent of women with advanced ovarian cancer will have an elevated CA-125 level, yet the test is not as useful in detecting early stage disease (approximately 50% accurate).

Why It’s Done?

There are several reasons why a person would get a CA 125 test:

  • To monitor cancer, your condition, and treatment.
  • To check for ovarian cancer, especially if you have a strong history of ovarian cancer in your family.
  • To check for cancer recurrence after treatment.

The rate at which CA-125 levels change is often an indirect measurement of the level of cancer growth and inflammation in your body. The CA-125 blood test is best used for observing the trend of an ovarian cancer patient’s results over time. Most gynecologic oncologists employ a CA-125 test for surveillance of ovarian cancer after the diagnosis has been surgically confirmed because it is a good indicator of a persistent or recurrent disease. When a CA-125 returns elevated, it can mean any of several benign conditions including:

  • Endometriosis
  • Liver disease
  • Menstruation
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Pregnancy
  • Uterine fibroids
A “false positive” (especially in premenopausal women), ovarian cancer or another type of cancer is also possible. All elevated CA-125 levels should be followed up with a licensed physician.
What To Expect?
It’s simple! A member at Star Wellness will take a sample of blood by inserting a needle into a vein, usually in your hand or arm. The blood sample is then sent to a lab for an analysis. Don’t worry, you can return to your day-to-day activities immediately.
Finally…
In healthy women, an elevated CA-125 usually does not mean ovarian cancer is present. Most healthy women with an elevated CA-125 do not have ovarian cancer or any other cancer. If you are interested in a CA 125, Contact us for any questions or to schedule an appointment.