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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffYou may have a CA 125 test for several reasons:
- To help diagnose cancer. Your doctor may suggest a CA 125 test if it's suspected that you have ovarian, endometrial or fallopian tube cancer. However, a CA 125 test cannot diagnose these diseases. Only a biopsy of tissue can confirm a diagnosis of cancer. Other tests also may be helpful in the evaluation of these cancers, such as a transvaginal or pelvic ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- To monitor cancer treatment. If you've been diagnosed with ovarian, endometrial or fallopian tube cancer, your doctor may recommend a CA 125 test on a regular basis to monitor your condition and treatment.
- To screen for ovarian cancer if you're at high risk. If you've been identified as being at high risk of developing ovarian cancer due to a family history of the disease or because you have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, your doctor may recommend a CA 125 test as one way to screen for the disease. A CA 125 test isn't accurate enough to use for cancer screening in all women, however, because many other conditions can cause your level of CA 125 to rise.
References
- CA-125. Lab Tests Online. http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ca125/. Accessed Feb. 23, 2009.
- Tumor markers: Questions and answers. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/tumor-markers. Accessed Feb. 23, 2009.
- Carlson KJ. Screening for ovarian cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb 23, 2009.
- Memarzadeh S, et al. Cancer of the fallopian tube. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb 23, 2009.
- How is endometrial cancer diagnosed? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_How_is_endometrial_cancer_diagnosed.asp?rnav=cri. Accessed Feb. 23, 2009.
- Ovarian cancer: Why screening isn't routine. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SPC/content/SPC_1_ovarian_Q_A_Saslow.asp. Accessed Feb. 23, 2009.
- Laboratory reference values. CA125. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; March 2009.
