Follow Up With no CA125 Elevation
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"
I had ovarian cancer 10 years ago. My CA-125 was never elevated and the cancer was found during a hysterectomy for other reasons. How can I be sure I haven't developed a recurrence, as I am having similar symptoms to those I had before the hysterectomy?
Stephen C. Rubin, MD, Professor and Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Health System, responds:
Some patients with ovarian cancers, even when advanced, will not have an elevation in CA-125 at the time of diagnosis. For these patients, regular physical examinations along with imaging scans from time to time are very important in their follow-up care. Most physicians will check a CA-125 regularly, as well. Fortunately, it would be very unusual for ovarian cancer to recur after ten years. You should see your physician to have your current symptoms evaluated.
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