Cancer Antigen 125 - Cancer Antigen Blood Test and CA125 Levels

Cancer antigen 125 or CA 125 is a tumor marker that is used specifically in women to diagnose the possibility of ovarian cancer. This can also be used as a marker for other cancers like those that occur in the lungs, breasts, fallopian tubes, and the gastro intestinal tract. This is one of the tests that is mandated during treatment of endometriosis and the presence of chocolate cysts in the ovaries. Cancer Antigen test is not really a good measure of the presence of cancer as the antigen will be present in some women who do have endometriosis; however, its use lies in the need to probe further, should the results return positive. The normal range for the presence of this marker is 0-35.

Endometriosis is a disease that occurs in women where the endometrial tissue that is normally discarded during a menstrual period is not completely done away with. This causes the remaining tissue to then start growing again into the ovaries forming a cyst. Since this type of cyst consists of endometrial tissue, it will be filled with blood and is therefore called a chocolate cyst of the ovary. Depending on the size of the cyst, it can be degraded and gotten rid of by using contraceptive treatments like the administration of progestins. These will stop a period occurring when it shouldn’t and according to the cycle of dosage, once one stops the medicine, a period will happen and sometimes it can get rid of the cyst as well. If this is not effective, then surgery is sometimes required to remove the endometrial tissue and the cyst.

Ovarian cancer is a condition which shows up in the epithelial layer of the ovaries but is not exclusive to the region. Most women that do get ovarian cancer are also prone to getting breast cancer and this can be confirmed with a test for the BRCA 1 and 2 genes. Ovarian cancers that do not occur on the epithelial layer can also be found in the egg cells. This is very problematic because it can manifest in a teratoma forming. A teratoma is a tissue that grows like a mini human being within. In some cases it has been observed that removed teratomas have been found with structures like hair, eyes, and brain tissue in it. This usually occurs in 30 per cent of ovarian tumors. However, it is less commonly noticed in other cases of cancers.