Blood test for ovarian cancer is basically the determination of a protein called CA 125 in the blood stream. This protein has greater concentrations in tumor and ovarian cancer mass than in ordinary normal cells in the body. This is unloaded in the blood stream by these abnormal cells. Its function is not clearly understood. But some consider this as antigen; CA in CA 125 stands for cancer antigen.
CA 125 is measured through blood test for Ovarian Cancer. It is also measured in fluids from the chest and abdominal cavity.
To accurately determine the blood concentration of CA 125, a series of blood test for Ovarian Cancer is conducted. This is more accurate than a single blood test for Ovarian Cancer because it determines the rate of increase in the blood stream.
The accuracy of results of blood test for Ovarian Cancer is placed at 50% for stage 1 and 80% for stages 2, 3 and 4. The other 50% of stage 1 have no cancer and the other 20% in stages 2, 3 and 4 showed no increase in CA 125 in their blood stream.
But some reproductive disorders of women sometimes caused positive results of blood test for Ovarian Cancer. Women disorders which produce elevated CA 125 concentration during blood test for Ovarian Cancer are: first semester pregnancy, benign ovarian cyst, Endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease.
CA 125 blood test for Ovarian Cancer can not be used alone to determine the existence of a malignant mass in the ovary. It must be coupled with Transvaginal Sonography and Rectovaginal Pelvic examination for more accuracy.
A blood test for Ovarian Cancer results indicating a 35 U/ml of CA 125 above normal levels is considered abnormally elevated. Blood test for Ovarian Cancer on 20,000 post menopausal women of age over 45 showed only 489 positive results using CA 125 blood test for Ovarian Cancer.
Blood test for Ovarian Cancer showed 17% positive results for ages between 20 to 34 and 30% for those over 34 years old as having benign tumor or pre-cancer conditions.
A pelvic surgery to remove ovaries can solve and eliminate risks of an Ovarian Cancer for women having benign tumors, stage 1 Ovarian Cancer and pre-cancer conditions.
Those in the stage 2, 3 and 4 conditions are placed in a chemotherapy of platinum and Toxal.
There are other blood tests for Ovarian Cancer. These are based on antigens: OVXI, M-CSF, CA 15-3 and CA 19-9. But of these, only OVXI has shown beneficial potential.
CA 125 blood test for Ovarian Cancer is useful in monitoring the cancer activity in stages 2, 3 and 4. This helps in the evaluation and effectivity of the chemotherapy treatments on the patient.
Blood test for Ovarian Cancer is very important, though its result is not so conclusive. It’s a must that women of menopausal age must have themselves examined, because this type of cancer only shows marked symptoms at its late stages; where cure is almost hopeless.
Early detection through CA 125 blood test for Ovarian Cancer of this silent killer must be done for a patient to survive this cancer. Many women are not aware of this situation; thus, a wide and intensive information campaign must be done. By doing this, many lives of women could be saved, and many lives could be continued peacefully.
