Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125): What To Think About
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What To Think About
- The cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) test cannot tell the difference between a cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign) ovarian lump.
- The test for CA-125 may also be done on body fluids (other than blood) taken from the chest or stomach area.
- High values of CA-125 in a woman who has been treated for ovarian cancer may mean that the cancer has returned. Often the high CA-125 level is found many months before the return of cancer can be found in another way.
- Studies are being done to see if CA-125 can be used as a screening test for ovarian cancer. So far, there is not enough proof to show that this test works to find ovarian cancer early.
| Last updated: | July 02, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Douglas A. Stewart, MD - Medical Oncology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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