Yay! Congrats on your continued cancer-free status.
btw, the ca-125 is made by the tumor, but some tumors don't make it. Essentially the ovarian cells make a tiny bit of it anyway, but when they grow out of control, you'll get lots and lots (thus elevated levels). Unfortunately, since tumors are just a cell that got a bunch of mutations so that it forgot to stop dividing, growing and making new cells, sometimes the mutations knock out the ability to make ca-125, so the tumor doesn't make it.
btw2, do drink lots 'n lots of water after your CAT scan. The biggest risk for CAT scans with contrast is that the contrast can be hard on your kidneys. Normal kidneys are usually just fine. People with slightly impaired kidneys are given medications and lots of IV fluid before a contract CAT scan. People with severely impaired kidneys make their docs think seriously about just how badly do they need that CAT scan, and can they get the info they need w/o contrast? In any case, lots of fluid to flush out the contrast is a good thing just before and for several hours after a CAT scan.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2005-06-22 10:52 pm (UTC)btw, the ca-125 is made by the tumor, but some tumors don't make it. Essentially the ovarian cells make a tiny bit of it anyway, but when they grow out of control, you'll get lots and lots (thus elevated levels). Unfortunately, since tumors are just a cell that got a bunch of mutations so that it forgot to stop dividing, growing and making new cells, sometimes the mutations knock out the ability to make ca-125, so the tumor doesn't make it.
btw2, do drink lots 'n lots of water after your CAT scan. The biggest risk for CAT scans with contrast is that the contrast can be hard on your kidneys. Normal kidneys are usually just fine. People with slightly impaired kidneys are given medications and lots of IV fluid before a contract CAT scan. People with severely impaired kidneys make their docs think seriously about just how badly do they need that CAT scan, and can they get the info they need w/o contrast? In any case, lots of fluid to flush out the contrast is a good thing just before and for several hours after a CAT scan.