No CA125 Test at last appointment

Welcome to Inspire!

What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.

Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.

How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!

No CA125 Test at last appointment

By mmtraynor
Posted September 25, 2009 at 12:48 am · 5 replies
In Help desk
Shared with the public

I was diagnosed with Primary Peritoneal this time 4 years ago. No tumors. Just cancer cells in the Acities Fluid.

I was given an extra year of maintenance chemo. I was told if they could keep me in remission for a year, then I could undergo the same treatment if and when it returns. I finished chemo 18 months ago. I have been going to Cancer Care every 3 months, alternating with Oncologist and Surgeon, and getting the CA125 blood test at every appointment.

At my last appointment with Oncologist he told me that I wasn't getting the CA125 test this time, which means that I will go 6 months inbetween.

Can anyone please let me know if this is the same as your treatment. Thank you, Marlene

Explore topics in this discussion:

Cancer Memory Ovarian cancer

5 replies

Oldest first
Newest first

By lifeisgrand
Posted September 25, 2009 at 8:07 am
Report post

From the things I've read, they do start spacing things out as you get further out without recurrence. To quote from my owner's manual (Ovarian Cancer. Your guide to taking control)... In general, you can expect to see your doctor quote often during the first two years, with visits gradually being spaced farther and farther apart as time passes without a recurrence... Doctors sometimes tailor schedules based on stage and grade of disease, patien's overall physical condition and individual preference (patient's request for continued testing).

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network Ovarian Cancer Treatment Guidelines recommends Office visits every 2 to 4 months for first 2 years then every six months for the next three years with CA-125 at every visit. So I guess you're getting the recommended "standard of care". Did you ask him if he would do one for your piece of mind?

By mmtraynor
Posted September 25, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Report post

No I didn't. Because of, with the help of an email in memory of Gilda Radner, I had to diagnose myself, I have little faith with the medical society. I was 68 and had a belly full of acities fluid that made me look like I was pregnant, and made many visits to two different doctors, and neither one took any notice of the enlarged abdomen, except to measure me and record the added inches, and weight gain.

By zircons
Posted September 25, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Report post

I refused to be seen every six months. I am seen every three months.

By youngmom
Posted September 25, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Report post

I have graduated to getting my CA-125 every 6 months and I am fine with that. I have also just graduated to seeing my gyn. oncologist every 6 months, but he has me see my regular gynocologist for an internal in between. I also am now seeing my medical oncologist every 6 months. Obviously, if any symptoms come up in between appointments it is very important to call the doctor. I don't think a few extra months makes that much of a difference in diagnosing and treating recurrences unless your cancer is very aggressive and fast growing.

By mmtraynor
Posted September 25, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Report post

Thank you very much for your replies.

Welcome to Inspire!

Explore topics in this discussion:

5 replies

Add to the discussion

OCNA on Twitter

Group leaders

You