Ovarian Cancer Series 06: High CA-125: Does It Mean Ovarian Cancer?
Seeing “high” next to CA-125 on a lab report can make you think of ovarian cancer. Even a result slightly above the laboratory’s reference range may leave you wondering how concerned you should be. A high CA-125 result does not diagnose ovarian cancer. A result within the reference range does not rule it out, either. To understand the result, start with why the test was ordered. What does a CA-125 test measure? CA-125 is a protein measured in a blood sample. It is used as a tumor marker because its level can rise in people with ovarian cancer. But conditions unrelated to cancer, as well as normal changes such as menstruation, can also affect it. CA-125 is not specific to ovarian cancer. A clinician may consider CA-125 alongside other information when evaluating a pelvic mass found on imaging. After an ovarian cancer diagnosis, repeated tests may help assess treatment response and inform follow-up care. The reason for testing changes how the result is interpreted...