What CA125 level indicates cancer?

If you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian, endometrial, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer, a decreasing CA 125 level often indicates that the cancer is responding to treatment. A rising CA 125 level may indicate a return or continued growth of the cancer.

Does high CA125 always mean cancer?

Answer From Shannon K. Laughlin-Tommaso, M.D. The cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) blood test isn’t recommended for women with an average risk of ovarian cancer. While women with ovarian cancer often have an elevated level of CA 125 , an elevated CA 125 level doesn’t always mean you have ovarian cancer.

What cancer marker is a associated with CA125?

Cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) is the only tumor marker recommended for clinical use in the diagnosis and management of ovarian cancer. The reference range of CA 125 is 0-35 units/mL (0-35 kU/L).

Can stress cause CA 125 to rise?

The most popular current theories suggest that CA 125 is synthesized by mesothelial cells in response to stress, which can be either mechanical stress caused by fluid overload, or inflammatory stress instigated by the release of mediators such as TNFα and interleukins [5,6].

What is a high tumor marker for ovarian cancer?

What is a tumor marker? CA 125 is elevated in ovarian cancer as well as in some benign conditions. CA 125 is a protein that is a so-called tumor marker or biomarker, which is a substance that is found in greater concentration in tumor cells than in other cells of the body.

Can you live a long life with ovarian cancer?

For all types of ovarian cancer taken together, about 3 in 4 women with ovarian cancer live for at least 1 year after diagnosis. Almost half (46.2%) of women with ovarian cancer are still alive at least 5 years after diagnosis. Women diagnosed when they are younger than 65 do better than older women.

How high can CA 125 levels go?

High levels of CA 125 (from 125 to 10.000 U/ml and higher) were revealed in 54 from 57 patients (94.7%) with malignant ovarian tumors.

Is there a ca 125 test for ovarian cancer?

The cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) blood test isn’t recommended for women with an average risk of ovarian cancer. While women with ovarian cancer often have an elevated level of CA 125, an elevated CA 125 level doesn’t always mean you have ovarian cancer. Some women with ovarian cancer never have an elevated CA 125 level.

When to take a ca 125 blood test?

in CA 125 levels, if elevated, can be fairly representative of disease status and frequently very helpful in the assessment of women with ovarian cancer. Women who are suspected of having ovarian cancer and women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer may receive a blood test to measure their CA 125 level.

What should the CA 125 level be for women?

Eventually, a CA 125 level of 35 units was found to be a useful cutoff point, with 99% of healthy women having values less than 35. Levels above 35 units are certainly seen in healthy women, but beyond the cutoff point of 35, the higher the value, the more likely there is trouble somewhere in the body.