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What Causes Elevated CA-125 Levels While Having Benign Ovarian Tumors?

Posted on Thu, 12 Jan 2017

Question: One of my relatives had ovarian cancer. Before all the treatment, CA125 was 1600.She was given 6 cycles of chemo, after which it drastically reduced to 9 and HIPEC was done. CA125 was then 6,3.8 etc.After 6 months, she had back pain. There was a cyst kinda(in vagina) thing that was blocking her colon. But CA125 was only 4.9. I know CA125 was a tumor marker to monitor the recurrent cancer. Also, it shoots up beyond the normal score even if the cancer is benign.So, i firmly believe it to be some ovarian cyst only. Any suggestions?

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (57 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
As below

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for trusting us with your health concern.
Yes CA 125 is a reliable marker of tumour relapse and recurrence.
But it is not wise to use that to comment on the nature of the cyst that you mention.
I would need details of the imaging done and specifics of the cyst.
Yes you can assume that it would mostly be benign but not be sure.
Looking forward to hearing from you
Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (7 hours later)

Hi, I have provided some attachments. Please review them.

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
As below

Detailed Answer:
This is not a simple ovarian cyst.
Sorry, but the scan clearly points towards a recurrence of the malignant process.
There are lesions all over the pelvis and lymph nodes.
This is, in all possibility, a recurrence of the malignant deposits.
Take care.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar