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.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. But it may also be a sign of a noncancerous condition, such as:. 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. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions about your results.
If your health care provider thinks you may have ovarian cancer, he or she may refer you to a gynecologic oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancers of the female reproductive system. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
A test for a tumor marker called HE4 may be done along with a CA blood test. An HE4 test is most often used to monitor women who have been treated for a common type of ovarian cancer called epithelial ovarian cancer. Some studies show that HE4 may be more accurate than CA in predicting whether this type of cancer will come back. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
What is a CA blood test? What is it used for? A CA blood test may be used to: Monitor treatment for ovarian cancer. If CA levels go down, it usually means the treatment is working. Check to see if cancer has come back after successful treatment. Screen women who are at high risk for ovarian cancer. What happens if the result is abnormal. References American Association for Clinical Chemistry. Lab Tests Online: CA Ovarian cancer, fallopian tube carcinoma, and peritoneal carcinoma.
Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. Hussain F. Martin VR, Stewart L. Ovarian cancer. In particular, CA levels tend to be higher in cancer cells originating from reproductive e. In practice, CA blood levels are sometimes used to evaluate the response to cancer treatment and also check for recurrence.
Elevated levels of CA in these situations increase the likelihood that the cancer may recur. Some controversy exists as to whether CA testing should be used as a screening tool for ovarian cancer in women without symptoms.
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