What Causes Elevated CA 125 Levels Despite Being On Tamoxifen And Arimidex Post A Mastectomy?

Brief Answer:
Details below.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Women who’ve had breast cancer can still get other cancers, although most don’t get cancer again. Breast cancer survivors are at higher risk for getting another breast cancer, as well as some other types of cancer. Steps for staying as healthy as possible include eating right, getting regular exercise, staying away from tobacco, and getting recommended screening tests.

Women who have had breast cancer can get any type of second cancer, but they have a higher risk for certain types of cancer, including:

A second breast cancer (This is different from first cancer coming back.)
Salivary gland cancer
Esophagus cancer
Stomach cancer
Colon cancer
Uterine cancer
Ovarian cancer
Thyroid cancer
Soft tissue cancer (sarcoma)
Melanoma of the skin
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Taking tamoxifen lowers the chance of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer coming back. It also lowers the risk of second breast cancer. Tamoxifen does, however, increase the risk for uterine cancer (endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma). Still, the overall risk of uterine cancer in most women taking tamoxifen is low, and studies have shown that the benefits of this drug in treating breast cancer are greater than the risk of second cancer.

Your CA 125 is high and since you had undergone mastectomy and had tamoxifen and Arimidex.

After completing treatment for breast cancer, you should still see your doctor regularly to look for signs that cancer has come back. If you have not had both breasts removed, you need annual mammograms to look for breast cancer (either a recurrence of cancer or new breast cancer). See Follow-up Care After Breast Cancer Treatment for more on the types of tests you might need after treatment.

All reports are within normal but go for regular Ultrasound every 3-4 month in follow up.

Let your doctor know about any new symptoms or problems because they could be caused by breast cancer coming back or by a new disease or second cancer. For example, abnormal menstrual bleeding, such as bleeding or spotting after menopause or between periods, can be a symptom of uterine cancer.

I hope this answers your query.

In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.

Wishing you good health.

Regards.

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Brief Answer:
Endometrial biopsy can help.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Your CT scan report is almost normal and suggests only a small cyst in the liver which can be benign. In the ultrasound report, the endometrial thickness of 3 cm is worrisome. This can be related to an endometrial malignancy. An endometrial biopsy should be done to rule out any cancerous changes.

Hope my answer is helpful.

Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.

Regards.

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Brief Answer:
Endometrial ablation will not decrease the chances of cancer.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Endometrial ablation is helpful if there is excessive bleeding. It will not reduce the chances of endometrial cancer. Since you are post-menopausal, it is better to get a repeat biopsy done to rule out any malignancy.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards.

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Brief Answer:
Hysterectomy is done in such cases.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

In case it is cancer then hysterectomy with lymph node removal is done according to the extent of the cancer stage.

Hope I have answered your query.

Regards,
Dr. Rakhi Tayal, OBGYN

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