Researchers disagree on whether or not to monitor ovarian cancer survivors with frequent CA-125 tests. But this patient would rather have more information than less.
BY Kelly Irvin
PUBLISHED September 18, 2018
Kelly Irvin is a multi-published novelist and former newspaper reporter who worked in public relations for more than 20 years. She retired from her day job in 2016 after being diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis, a degenerative motor neuron disease, and stage 4 ovarian cancer. She spends her days writing and loving her family.
I’ve officially entered the twilight zone. No, not the one Rod Serling spoke of on that classic TV show. This is that murky, dark period when the tumor markers associated with ovarian cancer start creeping up. While the blood test, known as the CA-125, isn’t a good barometer for many women with the disease, for me it’s proven to be a sure thing. I’d been NED (no evidence of disease) since December. While the test results aren’t above the normal range yet, the upward trend is a carbon copy of what happened the first time the number crept up and resulted in six months of chemotherapy. Another recurrence appears to be on the horizon and slithering my direction.
I wouldn’t know about its impending arrival if my oncologist chose to follow recommendations from researchers who say studies show that doing regular CA-125 tests don’t increase the overall survival rates in women with this disease. They recommend women not be given this simple blood test or a CT scan until they have symptoms of a recurrence.
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