ca 125 Test

Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue.

Common Causes of Cancer

• Smoking and Tobacco use.
• Improper Diet and Lack of Physical Activity.
• Overexposure to Sun and Other Types of Radiation.
• Some Viruses and Other Infections.

Cancer markers are basically substances found in tissue or blood or other body fluids. These markers also known as tumor markers can indicate cancer or non-malignant cancer conditions.  

The Cancer Symptoms differ for every person. Some of the common cancer symptoms include abnormal bumps, night sweats, unexplained fevers or unintentional weight loss. 

Depending on the cancer symptoms and the type of cancer, treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

CA 125 is a protein that is considered to one of the cancer markers. CA 125 is present in a larger concentration in ovarian cancer cells and is thus used to diagnose ovarian cancer. 

CA 125 blood test is used to determine whether a woman may have ovarian cancer or not. This CA 125 test can also be performed to monitor treatment for someone who has already been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or to check for signs of recurrence. 

The CA 125 normal value is less than 46 U/mL. Anything above the CA 125 normal range can indicate a whole host of conditions.

• You may have a benign condition
• You could have an ovarian, endometrial, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer.

Your doctor may recommend other tests and procedures to determine your diagnosis.

If your CA 125 level is on the decline, it could indicate that your body is responding well to the ovarian cancer treatment. 

A rise in your CA 125 level could mean that your cancer has returned or the cancer is continuing to grow.

An elevated CA 125 level can be caused by various normal and benign conditions such as:

• Endometriosis
• Liver disease
• Menstruation
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Pregnancy
• Uterine fibroids

The CA 125 blood test is a simple procedure that consists of taking a sample of blood.  The following steps are followed: 

The area is first cleaned and disinfected with an antiseptic. An elastic band is wrapped around the upper arm to force the veins to swell with blood. Once the vein is found, a needle is inserted gently. The blood is collected in a vial. After the test is completed, the puncture site is covered to stop bleeding. The sample is then sent to a lab for analysis. 

The CA 125 blood test is a simple blood test that does not pose any threats. However, there might be some complications if the vein cannot be found and multiple attempts are made.  The puncture site may result in excessive bleeding(a rare occurrence). In rare cases, some people might faint due to blood loss. There might be an infection at the puncture site if it is not cleaned properly. 

Depending on the lab that performed the test, CA 125 blood test results may be different. In most cases, the CA-125 levels are considered elevated if they are more than 35 units per milliliter.

High levels of CA-125 don’t necessarily confirm the presence of ovarian cancer or any other type of cancer. CA-125 levels may be elevated due to another health condition, such as

• uterine fibroids
• endometriosis
• pelvic inflammatory disease
• pregnancy
• menstruation

The CA 125 levels can also be altered due to certain medications or treatment. Your doctor can interpret your results and recommend additional testing if needed. 

When the CA-125 blood test is being used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for ovarian cancer, high levels of CA-125 often indicate that the cancer isn’t responding to treatment. If this is the case, your doctor might recommend some alternative treatments to fight the disease. If there is a decline in the CA 125 levels during cancer treatment, this could indicate that the cancer is responding to treatment.

Some women with ovarian cancer have normal baseline levels of CA-125, which means they have tumors that aren’t producing the CA-125 protein. If this happens, a CA-125 blood test won’t help your doctor monitor the progression of ovarian cancer.

CA 125 test cost varies from clinic to clinic. To find out the CA 125 test cost, you can give them a call. 

You can look for cancer testing near me to get a cancer test done at home. Portea, a world-class medical care company can administer the CA 125 test at home and additionally deliver the cancer test report at home.  The medical experts can recommend the best cancer treatment at home depending on the CA 125 test report. If you suspect that you might have cancer, give Portea a call and let them take care of you.