Hello and thank you for your post.

I can appreciate your concern especially because your partner has stage 4 melanoma, I am sorry to hear this.  This must be a worrying time for you all. However, a high CA125 result does not mean you necessarily have cancer. Remember it is not a perfect test and on its own cannot determine if anyone has cancer. It measures inflammation so there could be other things going on causing it.

You do not mention it, so I am wondering if you are going to have an ultrasound scan. This is often done alongside a CA125 blood test. It may be able to see what the matter is and hopefully rule out anything serious such as cancer.

I hope you know more about your situation soon as I know that waiting for tests and investigations to be done and then the results can be particularly worrying.

Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Take care,

Caroline 

Hi, thank you for your reply. I had an ultrasound today and there's nothing untoward appearing on it so I can relax now? I wonder why the CA125 was high.

Lynsey

Hello and thanks for your further post

I'm glad that your ultrasound was clear. When the CA125 level is raised, this indicates that there is some sort of inflammation in the pelvic area. But it cannot tell the doctor exactly what is causing the inflammation. Other conditions can cause this level to rise such as ovarian cysts, and fibroids.

You can read more about the CA 125 test by clicking here.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Celene

Hi Lyns21,

did you get answers? My ca125 is raised and I'm so worried xxxx

Hi hanx1988,

I'm waiting on MRI results but the gynaecologist I seen was very reassuring. He said it could be caused by IBS and the scan is precautionary. That they will check my levels again in March and watch for a trend if there's nothing on the scan to be concerned about. CA125 is an unreliable marker as it gives false positives and false negatives particularly in women before menopause so not to be too caught up in it. Easy to say, I know. I've been waiting for 2 weeks for scan results and it's been on my mind a bit.

Xx

Hi Hanx1988 and thanks for posting.

I can see than Lyns 21 has replied to you, and she is right when she says that the CA125 blood test can show raised levels caused by other things besides cancer.

A raised CA125 level indicates that there is some sort of inflammation in the pelvic area. But it doesn't indicate exactly what is causing the inflammation. Other conditions can cause this level to rise such as ovarian cysts, endometriosis and fibroids. 

You can read more about the CA 125 test by clicking here.

Hopefully you will know more soon.

Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Take care,

Rachel

Hope you find that it's something relatively innocuous x