Ovarian Cancer Blood Test

Ovarian cancer blood test - For complaints that may indicate ovarian cancer, the person has been referred by the doctor to a specialist. The doctor does a blood test, a blood test for ovarian cancer may be 99 accurate. He/she determines, among other things, the CA 125 level in the blood. A blood test is also done. With this result, one can look at a certain level in the blood.Ovarian cancer cells can produce this substance and deliver it to the blood. This substance can be detected during a blood test, CA 125 is, therefore, a tumor marker.

But normal cells can also produce CA 125. If the CA 125 level in your blood is increased, this does not necessarily mean that you have ovarian cancer.



Why is my doctor testing my blood for CA 125? Approximately 80% of women with ovarian cancer have an elevated CA 125 level in the blood. In patients at an early stage, the CA 125 level is only increased in 45% of women. The tumor is then still small and limited to the ovary.

The CA 125 content is especially important to help assess the effect of a treatment for ovarian cancer. The first measurement for the treatment is the starting point for this. By CA 125 blood test, does the CA 125 content at normal levels or decrease? Then the treatment probably worked and the tumor has become smaller.

Not all forms of ovarian cancer lead to an increased CA 125 content. Therefore, other tumor markers are also determined. For example, CA 19-9.

Research into other tumors

Is it not clear whether your symptoms indicate ovarian cancer? how to check for ovarian cancer symptoms? Then the doctor can also examine your blood for tumor markers of possible other tumors in the abdomen. For example, gut tumors.

*Image source : Daily Express

References :

1. National Cancer Institute
2. Mayo Clinic
3. American Cancer Society