In the article, we consider a blood test for CA 125.
There are quite a few diagnostic methods used in gynecological practice when examining a woman. And if some are understandable and familiar, for example, laboratory tests, ultrasound or a smear on the pathogenic flora, then others raise many questions. So, when a woman sees CA 125 in the direction of tests, she has a logical question about the purpose of the diagnosis. This is a tumor marker study. A blood test is prescribed for CA 125 to detect tumors in the organs of the female reproductive system.
Study Description
Oncomarkers are substances that the body’s tissues begin to produce in response to the formation of cancer cells or in other pathological processes that are not related to oncology. In addition, the products of the vital activity of the neoplasm and cellular decay can act as tumor markers. One of the important tumor markers showing the presence of pathologies of the female reproductive system is CA 125.
Detection of CA 125 in the blood allows early diagnosis of cancerous tumors, even if they are not visualized by ultrasound and other laboratory tests do not show them. Surgical removal of the tumor, as well as conservative treatment for early detection of cancer gives the best result. A blood test for the described tumor markers allows the specialist to evaluate the treatment and its effectiveness. Oncological markers detected in time can prevent the formation of metastases.
At the moment, there is an opportunity to suggest the presence of a cancerous tumor of various locations, based on the results of a blood test. Today, more than two hundred tumor markers are known, however, laboratory studies are carried out on only 20 of them, since all the remaining ones are the least informative.
Expediency of diagnosis
Oncomarker CA 125 in the blood most often allows you to diagnose cystic formations and the presence of a tumor in the ovaries of a woman. If cells are found in large numbers, we can conclude that there is a pathological formation in both the ovaries and other organs. So, an increased amount of CA 125 may indicate the following pathologies:
1. Uterine fibroids.
2. Endometriosis and endometrial cancer.
3. A tumor in the mammary glands.
4. Neoplasms in the bronchopulmonary system.
Can a diagnosis be made based on this analysis?
It should be remembered that the diagnosis is not made only on the basis of a blood test for CA 125. The presence of these cells indicates that the pathological process could begin. To clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a full examination, including other tumor markers. In addition, advanced diagnostics will be required.
Markers do not have full specificity. They indicate a deviation from the norm in the number of cells and can be detected even in a healthy female body. It is difficult to establish the exact reason for the increase in these indicators.
Indications for
Most often, a woman first hears about a blood test for the CA 125 tumor marker while visiting a gynecological office. When there are certain symptoms, as well as examination causes suspicion of cancer, the doctor can send a woman to such a study.
A blood test for CA 125 is often prescribed for ovarian cysts. Signs indicating the presence of a disease of the genitourinary system in a woman are:
1. Unreasonable weight loss.
2. Nausea and vomiting for no apparent reason.
3. Regular hyperthermia and subfebrile body temperature.
4. Discomfort during urination or bowel movements, frequent urination.
5. Spotting smears in the middle of the cycle, before and after menstrual bleeding.
6. Soreness in the lower abdomen, localized on one side or both. The pain radiates to the lower back.
7. An increase in the size of the lymph nodes.
8. Soreness during intercourse.
The listed symptoms are not specific and are inherent in many diseases of the female body. Therefore, without additional research, and in some cases laparoscopy, it is impossible to make a diagnosis.
With chronic fatigue syndrome
A characteristic early sign of cancer in the ovary can be chronic fatigue syndrome, but it can be quite difficult to distinguish it from usual overwork. Even a highly qualified specialist will not suspect oncology when complaining of regular malaise and fatigue, without conducting a full examination of the patient.
A blood test for the presence of tumor markers is a case where even an independent decision to take an analysis is welcome and can prevent irreversible consequences. Blood donation at CA 125 is recommended annually in a regular clinic or in specialized medical centers. This can be done both in the direction of a specialist, and independently.
For whom is the analysis most relevant?
A blood test for CA 125 is most relevant if the patient has complaints regarding women's health or the following features are revealed:
A woman is older than 50 years after menopause.
The family has a history of cancer, especially among close relatives.
The patient has a history of ovarian cysts or malignant neoplasms.
CA 125 previously showed an increase, but the neoplasm was not detected by other studies.
During the treatment of malignant neoplasms, the examination should be carried out much more often, sometimes it is necessary to donate blood every month. CA 125 helps to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, monitor the patient’s condition after surgery and monitor the dynamics of the pathological process.
Tumor Observation
Monitoring of the detected tumor is also carried out by analysis of the amount of CA 125. Thus, the oncologist selects the most optimal therapeutic tactics, which may include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, as well as surgical intervention. Cystic masses are also monitored. Reproductologists include a study on the level of CA 125 in the blood in the preparatory examination before in vitro fertilization.
Blood counts for tumor markers may be unreliable, false positive or false negative. Both options are undesirable. False positive analysis can cause stress, and in the case of a false negative, the problem will not be detected in a timely manner.
How to donate blood to CA 125?
In order to avoid inaccuracy when passing an analysis to tumor markers, it is important to properly prepare for the collection of material. In this case, all the rules that apply to the normal blood sampling from a vein work. Experts recommend following these tips:
1. Blood is donated in the morning on an empty stomach.
2. For a day, you should refuse to take any medications.
3. Alcohol consumption is limited to three days before blood donation.
Norm CA 125 in women is of interest to many.
Rules to follow
There are also specific rules that a woman must adhere to before donating blood to tumor markers, for example:
1. Menstrual bleeding is a contraindication for blood donation.
2. In the first trimester of pregnancy, indicators increase as a response to changes in the body.
3. A smoking patient should significantly limit the number of cigarettes for a few days before the study.
4. Sexual life is also excluded three days before analysis.
A false positive test result can occur as a response to previous stress, as well as an inflammatory disease of adjacent organs. Any deviation from the norm of CA 125 tumor markers in women is necessarily re-checked after a while.
Norm
An increased number of tumor markers indicates the occurrence of pathological processes in the ovaries. The most common similar situation occurs with a cyst, and the highest rates indicate the presence of a tumor and the spread of metastases. An insignificant deviation from the norm of CA 125 tumor markers in women upward can occur against the background of inflammatory processes in the organs of the female reproductive system. It is also possible with hormonal imbalance and pregnancy.
The norm of CA 125 in women is within 35 units. An increase in blood tumor markers does not always indicate the presence of cancer.
Decryption
Consider decoding the results of the study on CA 125:
1. Up to 15 units - a healthy reproductive system.
2. 15-35 units are acceptable.
3. 35-40 units - increase slightly and most likely indicates menopause or pregnancy.
4. 40-100 units - endometriosis, cystic formation in the ovary, hepatitis, impaired liver function, inflammatory pathologies.
5. More than 100 units - indicates the probable presence of cancer, requires an additional examination.
Against the background of a cyst in the ovary, CA 125 approaches an indicator of 60 units. However, the line between malignant and benign education is blurred. The cyst, even a benign one, may contain degenerated cells, so doctors do not recommend a wait-and-see tactic for this pathology.
You should not panic if the results of blood tests CA 125 are too high. In most cases, an additional examination does not reveal cancer. However, the analysis helps to identify other, latent forms of non-cancerous diseases.
The need for timely diagnosis
The ovaries are specific organs of the female reproductive system that are responsible for the production of hormones. They interact with other pelvic organs. The flow of blood and lymph occurs in such a way that cancer cells are able to penetrate the ovaries from the stomach or mammary glands. That is, ovarian cancer occurs in most cases as a result of metastasis from another organ.
Reborn cells from the ovaries can spread to the intestines, uterus and other organs, as well as penetrate the umbilical zone. With damage to the abdominal region, cancer cells provoke ascites, characterized by accumulation of fluid. Ascites is a characteristic sign of formation in the ovaries.
Cancer is dangerous because its development occurs, as a rule, in a latent form. Severe symptoms appear in the later stages, when the treatment seems complex and lengthy. An increase in the abdomen is a sign of a tumor in the ovaries. In this case, a woman may not experience pain and other unpleasant symptoms. Cystosis is also dangerous in that degeneration of the formation into a malignant tumor can occur.
Conclusion
Regular blood donation to CA 125 will allow you to diagnose the problem in time and eliminate the tumor or cyst at an early stage of development. It is especially important to conduct a survey on a regular basis for women older than 40 years. Attenuation of ovarian function due to menopause can trigger the formation of fibroids and cysts due to hormonal imbalance.
Women at this age tend to refuse regular visits to the gynecologist, justifying this by the lack of need. Moreover, the increase in the incidence of ovarian cancer during this period increases. Even a cyst at this age can be really dangerous for a woman’s health and life, so you should not neglect specialist visits and passing tests, including on CA 125.
We examined what a blood test for CA 125 shows.