Ca 125 (ovarian Cancer Monitor)

The CA 125 test is a blood test primarily used to monitor ovarian cancer and track its treatment progress. The test measures the level of CA 125 (cancer antigen 125), a protein found in the blood. Elevated levels of CA 125 may indicate the presence of ovarian cancer, though it can also be elevated in other conditions.

• Monitoring Ovarian Cancer: It's most often used to monitor patients who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, especially after treatment like surgery or chemotherapy.
• Assessing Treatment Response: If a patient's CA 125 levels drop after treatment, it can indicate that the treatment is working.
• Recurrence Detection: An increase in CA 125 levels over time may suggest that the cancer has returned, even before symptoms appear.

• To see if ovarian cancer treatment is working and to check for ovarian cancer that has come back.
• To learn more about a growth or lump in your pelvis (the area below your belly)
• To screen for ovarian cancer if you're risk is very high.

This test measures the amount of a protein called CA-125 (cancer antigen 125) in a sample of your blood. CA-125 is a type of tumor marker. High levels of certain tumor markers in your blood may be a sign of cancer. If you have cancer, measuring certain tumor markers may help provide important information about how to treat your disease.

High levels of CA-125 are often found in people who have ovarian cancer. The ovaries are a pair of female reproductive glands that store ova (eggs) and make female hormones. Ovarian cancer happens when the cells in an ovary begin to grow out of control.

If you have ovarian cancer, CA-125 blood tests can help show whether your treatment is working.

Other names: cancer antigen 125, glycoprotein antigen, ovarian cancer antigen, CA-125 tumor marker