High CA125 level but ultra scan all clear

Hello,

So the last 24/48 hours have been the absolute worst for me. I basically spoke to my GP a few weeks ago regarding my IBS symptoms which I have had for years. It's not constant and I only tend to get a little bloated after certain foods. I was just seeing if there was anything else I can take to help ease it slightly. She suggested some peppermint tablets and also said about doing some bloods to check for other things as well. At this point I didn't think anything of it. 

I had my blood tests last Friday (was on my period and it was a few days after my 2nd jab and being wiped out from side effects of that)

I then had a txt message on the following weds to say I had been urgently reffered as my count was high and they wanted to scan my ovaries. This honestly put the fear of good into me as I didn't expect it and had no idea or explanation from anyone. 

I did the worst thing possible and googled what CA125 was and that just set of my anxiety and made me worry even more. 

My NHS appointment isn't until 17th August so me and my husband made the decision to go private for a scan as I couldn't cope with this hanging over us. I'm a 33 year old mum of 2 beautiful girls and I spent 2 days in tears not fully understanding it all. 

I could see my level on the NHS app and it was 129 which after looking on forums etc seemed so so high. 

Thankfully the lady at my scan was amazing as I was a mess lol. She talked me through it all and after scanning my ovaries and other organs she said there was nothing concerning at all or to worry about. The biggest relief ever!

I am having my bloods repeated on Monday to check the levels but just wondered if anyone else has experienced this and what could be next. What if my levels are stilll high or come back even higher but my scans were fine? What happens then. 

I feel a lot better after having my scans and that my ovaries are fine but obviously still a little anxious as to why my level was so high. 

Thanks in advance x

 

 

 

 

  • Hello KimberelyM88 and thanks for posting, 

    Higher than usual Ca125 levels can occur for a number of reasons for example endometriosis and being on a period - in a few women above average levels could be normal for them.

    I am not sure what your GP will want to do if your CA125 remains elevated, it may depend on what other sorts of blood tests you have already had done, but I would try not to worry about it and cross that bridge if you come to it. 

    Things like this can understandably be very unsettling and make anyone anxious. Try and take a step back for now.  The main thing is that the ultrasound is ok. 

    All the best, 

    Julia

  • Hi Julia 

    Thank you so much for your reply. 

    Keeping myself busy and away from Google

     

    Many thanks 

    Kim 

     

     

     

     

  • Hi I have been through something similar myself.  The last 6 weeks have been horrendous.  I have a history of cysts so knew the symptoms and when i needed to pee more and felt bloated I immediately took notice and went to the doctors.  Due to my history my doctor organised for an ultrasound to be carried out and also a ca125 test.  I had the ca 125 test done a few days later.  The results came back that following week raised to 125 followed by a urgent appointment to an gynaecology oncologist.  I did nothing  but cry from I got that letter.  I was convinced I had cancer and was going to leave my 3 beautiful kids.  At my appointment my Consultant did an internal scan and said he thought there was something suspicious possibly a cyst on my right ovary.  My left looked fine.  I had a bit of pain from my left side so that shocked me even more.  He red flagged me for a mri which I had the following week. He told me he would follow up with me when he had all reports back including more blood tests that they did that day, in 3 weeks time.  Those 3 weeks were the longest of my life, I was so stressed my gp had to put me on some short term anxiety meds to get me through it.  The consultant called me with my results to say that nothing suspicious or sinister showed on the MRI.  What he thinks looked suspicious may of just been the way my ovary looks after removal of cysts a few years prior.  He said there was nothing to worry about on it and he told me to get my ca125 done again at my GP as soon as possible.  I did and they came back within normal level,  6 weeks after the original ca125 was taken.  

    You may have already had your levels rechecked and I hope that they have come back down for you.  My consultant had said to me of they don't come down then more investigations would need to be carried out.  Its such a scary experience.  

  • Hello Palegal 

    Thank you so much for responding, it's so nice to hear others that have had similar experiences but I am so sorry you had to to through it as well. 

    It's horrible isn't it! The stress and emotion that you to through is so hard. I was the same, whole life flashed before me and my worry for my two little girls. 

    I had a repeat of the ca125 test which thankfully came back down to normal range (huge sigh of relief) 

    They started to look bowel related issues so now waiting for results from those tests so it's still ongoing but hopefully all will be ok and it will be IBS as first thought. 

    The Drs couldn't apologise enough to me as they said they have handled it completely wrong by not phoning or having that communication with me regarding this all. I believe if I had been called and it had been explained instead of a txt I wouldn't have been so frantic with worry. (I'm sure I would have still anxious as it's still scary and I'm sure I would have still goggled it)

    I will be having me CA levels checked again in a few months time just to make sure but main thing is the tests so far are coming back normal. 

    I am so glad to hear yours are the same, it's not a nice experience but thankful that all is ok. 

    Take care X