The CA 125 is a protein found in the blood and is often used as a tumour marker for ovarian cancer. The normal value is usually between 0 to 35 units/ml. CA 125 can be elevated in both benign and malignant conditions, so having a raised CA 125 does not mean you have cancer.
In about 1% of healthy women, it is slightly elevated in the absence of disease. Benign conditions that can cause elevated levels of CA 125 include
- pregnancy
- endometriosis
- uterine fibroids
- pancreatitis
- normal menstruation
- pelvic inflammatory disease
- cirrhosis of the liver
For cancerous conditions, an elevated CA 125 can also be seen in other types of cancer including cancer of the uterus, lung, breast, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract as well as lymphoma.
Hence if you have an elevated CA 125, please see a gynaecologist for further assessment.
