The doctor will decide whether further tests, procedures, follow-up care or additional treatment are needed. Cancer antigen CA Why a CA test is done. A CA test may be done: if the doctor suspects there may be cancer to find out if cancer treatment is working to find out if cancer has come back recurred after treatment This test is not recommended as a screening test for ovarian cancer because CA can be normal in many women with early stage ovarian cancer and it may be higher than normal in non-cancerous benign conditions and other cancers.
How a CA test is done. What the results mean. An increased CA value can occur in both cancers and non-cancerous conditions. The CA blood levels can be increased in ovarian cancer and other cancers including: uterine fallopian tube pancreatic breast colorectal lung stomach A decrease in the CA level during treatment usually means that the cancer is responding to treatment.
Some doctors may recommend CA testing combined with transvaginal ultrasound every six months for those at very high risk. However, some people with ovarian cancer may not have an increased CA level. And no evidence shows that screening with CA decreases the chance of dying of ovarian cancer.
An elevated level of CA could prompt your doctor to put you through unnecessary and possibly harmful tests. If your doctor suspects you may have ovarian cancer or another type of cancer, he or she may recommend a biopsy to collect a sample of cells.
Other tests that may be helpful in evaluating these cancers include a transvaginal or pelvic ultrasound, serum human epididymis protein 4 HE4 , and computerized tomography CT. For a CA test, a member of your health care team takes a sample of blood by inserting a needle into a vein, usually in your hand or arm. The blood sample is sent to a lab for analysis. You can return to your usual activities immediately.
If your CA level is higher than normal, you may have a benign condition, or the test result could mean that you have ovarian, endometrial, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer. Your doctor may recommend other tests and procedures to determine your diagnosis. If you've been diagnosed with ovarian, endometrial, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer, a decreasing CA level often indicates that the cancer is responding to treatment.
A rising CA level may indicate a return or continued growth of the cancer. None of the major professional organizations recommend using the CA as a screening test for those with an average risk of ovarian cancer. In some cases, it might be used to check for early signs of ovarian cancer in women who are at a high risk for the disease.
A CA blood test is often ordered to monitor the progression of ovarian cancer. Baseline CA levels are measured before someone undergoes treatment for ovarian cancer. A drop in CA levels during and after treatment usually indicates that treatment has been successful. Increases in CA levels following treatment may signify a recurrence of the disease. After treatment for ovarian cancer, the CA blood test is used for several years to ensure the disease was treated successfully.
After this period, the test is ordered every six months for three years and then once per year. Some doctors may recommend the CA blood test to women with a strong family history of ovarian cancer. There are numerous disorders and conditions that can cause elevated CA levels, such as:. A CA blood test involves taking a small sample of blood, typically from a vein in the arm.
The following will occur:. Are there any risks to the test? What do the results mean? But it may also be a sign of a noncancerous condition, such as: Endometriosis , a condition in which tissue that normally grows inside the uterus also grows outside the uterus. It can be very painful. It may also make it harder to get pregnant.
Pelvic inflammatory disease PID , an infection of a woman's reproductive organs. It's usually caused by a sexually transmitted disease , such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. Uterine fibroids , noncancerous growths in the uterus Liver disease Pregnancy Menstruation , at certain times during your cycle If you are not being treated for ovarian cancer, and your results show high CA levels, your health care provider will probably order more tests to help make a diagnosis.
Is there anything else I need to know about a CA blood test? References American Cancer Society [Internet]. Atlanta: American Cancer Society Inc. What Is Ovarian Cancer? Curr Drug Targets [Internet]. Washington D. C: American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c— CA [updated Apr 4; cited Apr 4]; [about 2 screens].
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