What is a CA-125 Test

A CA-125 test is a blood test that is often performed on patients who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or endeometrial cancer. This blood test measures Cancer Antigen 125 - or CA-125. CA-125 is a protein that is also referred to as a tumor marker.

A CA-125 test may be performed if cancer is suspected, but will not be used to diagnose cancer by itself. CA-125 tests are also frequently used to monitor patients who are known to have ovarian, fallopian tube, or endometrial cancer, and occasionally to monitor women who are considered to be at high risk for one of these cancers.

CA-125 results are measured in units per millileter (U/mL). A normal CA-125 result is less than 35 U/mL. Results that are above 35 U/mL could suggest cancer, though the CA-125 may be elevated for a host of other reasons as well, including pregnancy, endometriosis, and pelvic cysts. When my wife, Terri, was diagnosed with Stage IV fallopian tube cancer her CA-125 was 8,890. However, 20 percent of women with confirmed Stage II, III, or IV ovarian cancer never have an elevated CA-125 result. Only 50 percent of women with Stage I ovarian cancer have an elevated CA-125 test.

Ovarian cancer is known as the "silent cancer" because it is so difficult to detect at an early stage. Sadly, the CA-125 test is not reliable enough to be used widely as a screening tool for this devastating disease. Despite considerable research, scientists have yet to develop a reliable ovarian cancer screening test that can be used on a wide scale. However, CA-125 tests are a valuable and useful tool for oncologists to use in monitoring women who have already been diagnosed with ovarian, fallopian tube, and endometrial cancers.

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