LAURIE: For your friend

[Guest guest]

Hi, Laurie!

{NOTE: I thought I had actually sent this post a few days ago, but evidently

I did not!!!}

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Good for you for listening to your colleague and trying to provide some

enlightenment.

The subject of the CA-125 blood test comes up fairly frequently on this list.

But it's an important matter to clarify, so I think it bears frequent

repeating from time to time.

I'll reiterate some of the information we've discussed.

The CA-125 blood test in PRE-menopausal women is of LITTLE (if any) value

because

PRE-menopausal women can have an elevated CA-125 for any number of

(non-ovarian cancer) reasons: conditions including fibroids, ovarian cysts,

adenomyosis, endometriosis, infection, even pregnancy.

In fact, even some PREmenopausal women who have NONE of these conditions--who

are fibroid-free and endometriosis-free and adenomyosis-free and cyst-free

can test positive on the CA-125!!!

In short, it's not a very reliable, meaningful test in premenopausal women

for ANYTHING definite,

because of the non-specificity of the test results, and the frequency of false

positives.

Like many women, I've had high CA-125 test results, but I have NEVER had any

pelvic malignancies. (And I would certainly know, being " America's Most

Scanned Woman " ;-)]

Furthermore, sometimes what we read--or what the radiologist sees-- ain't

necessarily what it turns out to be.

As I have recounted on various occasions on this list, I, too, had an ovarian

" mass " years ago, which was very strongly felt

to be malignant.

AT LEAST TWO ultrasound reports said " THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE CYST. "

because of the internal echoes.

My gyno, like the radiologists suspected malignancy, was prepared to remove

the ovary no matter what, until

I read Dr. 's book and I insisted that he (my gyno) not remove the

ovary on a

" just in case " basis.

I had the laparoscopic surgery to remove the mass ON THE OVARY. A biopsy was

taken INTRAoperatively of the ovary--, just as I specified in writing--check

first, cut later!! BIOPSY IT BEFORE--NOT AFTER-- THE OVARY IS REMOVED. Refrain

until you hear my results from pathology!!

Lo, and behold, and

contrary to everyone's expectation. my suspicious mass WAS nothing more than

a simple cyst. My ovary was spared.

Nothing

more dramatic than that.

So much for the " THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE CYST. " But, no--Simply

stated, it WAS INDEED a harmless, simple cyst.

I've read variations of my same story repeated by other posters on this

list--and more than once. So it can't be that uncommon to make an incorrect

" diagnosis " based on an imaging study, alone.

It's good to be vigilant when ovarian cancer is suspected, but I think

equally important NOT to make a rush to judgment and OVERTREAT (i.e., remove the

ovaries, ) until the verdict is in. The verdict, of course, being the path

results.

-Roma