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CONCLUSIONS:
Women should be advised not to have routine CA125 measurements, providing they are well and have no symptoms suggesting relapse. In asymptomatic patients with a rising CA125 level, chemotherapy can be delayed. Earlier stopping of maintenance therapy just because of rising CA125 might deny patients continuing benefit from that therapy. Use of CA125 to define progression could result in platinum-sensitive patients being falsely classified as platinum resistant.
We may have other health problems besides ovarian cancer. Such as bowel problems, abdominal problems, general fatigue, backaches etc., etc., To be treated for any other medical issue a cancer survivor needs to first rule out a recurrence. I think a knowledge of current CA125 status is important for the mental well being of many ovarian cancer survivors.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't mean we have to rush into treatment just because our CA125 has risen. Ignorance is a very short lived bliss.