Ovarian cancer is a life threatening disease that has claimed the lives of numerous women over the years. Nowadays though, there is a renewed hope that the disease can be discovered before reaching its advanced stages of development. The CA 125 blood test has transformed the way medical assisting jobs and other careers in the medical field detect ovarian cancer, and it is something you may come across in your work in the future. The information below provides an overview of this test to give you a better understanding of how it works and what it can do.
How the CA 125 Blood Test Works
Testing for the CA 125 protein can help doctors determine whether or not someone has ovarian cancer much earlier on than alternative tests that have been performed in the past. This is a test that was developed in 1996, but in recent years has been significantly improved. Researchers say that the CA 125 protein is found in a number of various cancer cells, particularly ovarian cancer, so the presence of this protein is often a reliable indicator that a form of cancer exists. By taking fluid from the abdominal or chest cavity and testing it for this protein doctors can sometimes diagnose ovarian as well as other cancers before they reach advanced stages of development.
Another common use of the CA 125 protein blood test is the supervising of patients with pre-existing conditions. Monitoring of this protein can help doctors to determine whether or not certain therapies, such as chemotherapy, are working as they should be. If CA 125 blood testing indicates that levels of the protein are decreasing this can be a sure indicator that such medical therapies are effective.
Possible Problems with CA 125 Blood Tests
It is possible for other conditions other than cancer to cause elevated levels of the CA 125 protein but because doctors are aware of such conditions they can easily be ruled out once testing is conducted. Simple, everyday conditions such as menstruation, non-cancerous tumors, and pregnancy may all cause this protein level to rise in the body. When visiting a physician they should be made aware of any conditions that may cause these levels to rise.
One of the biggest problems doctors face when it comes to diagnosing cancer is that they often are unable to obtain a diagnosis early on enough in the cancers stages of development to be able to effectively treat such diseases. More and more often researchers are coming up with early detecting testing that gives us hope of being able to cure such diseases. By seeing a doctor regularly, you are giving yourself an increased chance of discovering a disease early on and having many more options regarding treatment possibilities. No ailment should be completely ignored, especially if you have a history of cancer in your family. Early detection is the key to battling this most ruthless disease.
Although the CA 125 blood test for ovarian cancer is not perfect, it definitely aids doctors and scientists in the battle against both ovarian as well as other cancers. Every day this test is used more and more commonly and every day the test is being improved to work even better. While not a cure for cancer nor a singular determinant, the capabilities of the CA 125 blood test for cancer is surely a large step towards the battle against this type of cancer as well as others. This could easily lead to better detection processes in the future if scientists continue to explore their options.
How the CA 125 Blood Test Works
Testing for the CA 125 protein can help doctors determine whether or not someone has ovarian cancer much earlier on than alternative tests that have been performed in the past. This is a test that was developed in 1996, but in recent years has been significantly improved. Researchers say that the CA 125 protein is found in a number of various cancer cells, particularly ovarian cancer, so the presence of this protein is often a reliable indicator that a form of cancer exists. By taking fluid from the abdominal or chest cavity and testing it for this protein doctors can sometimes diagnose ovarian as well as other cancers before they reach advanced stages of development.
Possible Problems with CA 125 Blood Tests
It is possible for other conditions other than cancer to cause elevated levels of the CA 125 protein but because doctors are aware of such conditions they can easily be ruled out once testing is conducted. Simple, everyday conditions such as menstruation, non-cancerous tumors, and pregnancy may all cause this protein level to rise in the body. When visiting a physician they should be made aware of any conditions that may cause these levels to rise.
One of the biggest problems doctors face when it comes to diagnosing cancer is that they often are unable to obtain a diagnosis early on enough in the cancers stages of development to be able to effectively treat such diseases. More and more often researchers are coming up with early detecting testing that gives us hope of being able to cure such diseases. By seeing a doctor regularly, you are giving yourself an increased chance of discovering a disease early on and having many more options regarding treatment possibilities. No ailment should be completely ignored, especially if you have a history of cancer in your family. Early detection is the key to battling this most ruthless disease.
Although the CA 125 blood test for ovarian cancer is not perfect, it definitely aids doctors and scientists in the battle against both ovarian as well as other cancers. Every day this test is used more and more commonly and every day the test is being improved to work even better. While not a cure for cancer nor a singular determinant, the capabilities of the CA 125 blood test for cancer is surely a large step towards the battle against this type of cancer as well as others. This could easily lead to better detection processes in the future if scientists continue to explore their options.
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