That's a really common concern! CA-125 is the most well-known tumor marker for ovarian cancer, but it's not perfectly specific — meaning things other than cancer can cause it to rise.
Inflammation in the body can indeed influence tumor marker levels. While arthritis itself isn't listed as a direct cause of elevated CA-125 Show Full Answer
That's a really common concern! CA-125 is the most well-known tumor marker for ovarian cancer, but it's not perfectly specific — meaning things other than cancer can cause it to rise.
Inflammation in the body can indeed influence tumor marker levels. While arthritis itself isn't listed as a direct cause of elevated CA-125, general inflammation and certain infections or conditions affecting the pelvic area are known to affect results.
Some known non-cancer reasons CA-125 can rise include:
- Pelvic infections
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Menstruation
- Pregnancy
- Liver conditions
Because of this, doctors typically don't rely on CA-125 alone. A rising marker is usually followed up with additional testing, like imaging or a biopsy, to understand what's really going on. It's always worth bringing up any concerns about rising tumor markers with your oncologist, especially if you're managing inflammation from another source. They can help put the numbers in context alongside your full clinical picture.
May 20
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