Any women ever have the CA-125 blood test?

Rhasslariel · Post by **Rhasslariel** » Mon May 12, 2008 9:10 am

I just got back from the gyno today and while he said everything looked fine physically and I've never had a bad pap, I asked him to do the CA-125 blood test for ovarian cancer. I asked for this (and an ultrasound which I will have next week) because I'm 45 and have gone well over a year since my last period. Recent blood work did show my hormone levels at menopausal. Since I don't know my family history, I figure better safe than sorry right? Not so sure. He said a problem with this test is it has sometimes come back with a false positive, causing people to have unnecessary surgery. My fear is of course, how do they know the false positive from the real one? And since I'm not going to have kids, would getting rid of the ovaries (and even the uterus) be so bad? Can't get ovarian or uterine cancer if you don't have those things right? So now I have to control my anxiety waiting for the results and hoping to hell its a negative. But he also told me the reason ovarian cancer is so bad is because it spreads so fast. I can be clear now, have it first start a month from now, and be past helping by my next annual exam. How am I not supposed to panic with thoughts like this in my head?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 12, 2008 9:38 am

I have heard to that some times the test can be wrong and I agree with you how do they nkow and boy does that put you in a spin. My docter has told me that since I go every year and have a clean bil of health that I dont need the test even though I have a high family history of uterine cancer. So I keep my fingers crossed and pray every day that I dont get it. But most of my aunts had hystorectomies? by the time they were 35 and I am 30 and a half an dmy mom got uterine cancer then died of lung cancer. Good luck to you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:41 am

I have had a CA-125 test, no big deal,mine was very ,very high, I had endometriosis, alot of things can make the results come back high.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 12, 2008 12:58 pm

I have had the test. I had a very large cyst on one of my ovaries, turns out I had endometriosis. I would think seriously before getting rid of body parts without having been diagnosed with some problem, disease etc. I encourage you not to do anything so drastic out of fear and/or what if thinking.

Just my opinion.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 12, 2008 1:29 pm

Ca-125 is not so much a diagnostic test as it is a marker for response to treatment of ovarian cancer. Many things, such as endometriosis, can elevate Ca-125. You may want to leave the diagnosing to the professionals

I mean that in a loving winking-at-you way. If you haven't already, share your fears about cancer with your doctor. A hysterectomy is a major surgery. Not to cause more worries, but if the reason you are considering having organs removed is so they don't develop cancer, then why not the colon, stomach, pancreas, both breasts, liver, lungs, brain... the list goes on.

wrigleyjen · Post by **wrigleyjen** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:25 pm

if the reason you are considering having organs removed is so they don't develop cancer, then why not the colon, stomach, pancreas, both breasts, liver, lungs, brain..

I need my colon, stomach, pancreas, liver, brain etc. I don't need my ovaries or uterus. Those are for reproduction. I have never wanted children and now at 45 and in menopause, certainly don't intend on ever having any so to me, those organs are obsolete and an unnecessary risk. Yes, all those things you mention can also become cancerous, but if I can reduce the number why not? One of my best friends had both removed when she was in her mid 30's and since she didn't have any problems other than some fybroid cysts, the surgery was simple (I think they just went through her navel) and she was up and around in no time and has had no problems since. Her energy puts me to shame and she has two kids. My mother (I was adopted) on the other hand, had the same thing after being diagnosed with cancer later in life and it was a major operation that she never fully recovered from and the cancer came back. I just wonder if its worth the risk. The doctor said if the test comes back positive, they automatically send the patient to a cancer specialist. I don't know. It just plays on my biggest fear...death. I guess its just a wait and see thing. I do notice that I'm not anywhere near as anxious as I think I would have been before starting this program. I guess that's something.