CA125 Tests, Ovarian Cancer Tumour Marker kit – £49

The story of those who experienced it 

Rachele, 72 years old, fell ill with it for the first time in 2000.

“I suggest women never postpone their CA125 Blood Tests.”

Fifty years old, a peaceful existence, a long-lasting marriage and two children who are already adults. Until 2000, everything seemed to go smoothly in Rachele’s life. Then, suddenly, the unexpected left-handed shot. For a decade, she had been undergoing a pelvic ultrasound every six months.

All negative, up to the one that would have brought her face to face with the disease. “Maybe I need to have an Ovarian Tumour Marker checkup” were the first words that the woman addressed to her brother, a surgeon, after completing a test and her final assessment. And he, due to his profession, was the first to be informed of it.

Cancer, the one we always talk about, thinking it concerns others, from that moment, belonged to me, too. The disease was in my body, even though it hadn’t shown any signs yet. However, it grew quickly, like fear: it’s always there at the beginning when they tell you you have a disease. But faith and doctors allowed me to overcome it. And to report this experience today, hoping it can instil confidence in women facing the disease.”

MAY 8 WORLD DAY

The testimony of this distinguished 72-year-old lady comes on the occasion of the World Day dedicated to it. And this is the most dangerous form that can affect the gynaecological sphere. Also, malignant forms can derive from the lining epithelium (most frequent), from the germ cells (which give rise to the egg cells) and from the stroma (support tissue of the glands).

But regardless of the origin, unlike what happens with other female tumours (such as breast and cervical), there is no form of prevention or early diagnosis. And Rachele’s story bears witness to this. Before having a brother, I had a father who was a doctor – the woman tells the Fondazione Umberto Veronesi Magazine -.

Consequently, I have felt the attention towards certain themes since I was a child. Already twenty years ago, when sensitivity towards prevention was not as developed as it is today, I regularly underwent mammograms, Pap tests and frequent abdominal ultrasounds.” Yet all this was not enough to avoid the appointment with the disease.

NOW IT CAN BE TREATED 

Rachele recalls: “Two medium-sized masses were detected, one for each ovary: 13 and 9 centimetres respectively.” Mario Luigi Santangelo removed them, removing both the ovaries and the uterus. However, during the operation, the first step in the treatment, the capsule of one of the two formations broke. Thus, one of the major pitfalls materialized: intraperitoneal dissemination.

They explained to me that the spread of diseased cells to the peritoneum, and potentially from there to the other organs of the abdominal cavity, can represent one of the most serious consequences of it», recalls the woman. This happened: four metastases were addressed in 15 years. “Let’s say that approximately every three years, the disease came back to greet me”, and I need a new CA125 check-up. Fortunately, however, they have always been discovered in time. And the treatments, surgical and pharmacological, have had the best effects.

But not just chemotherapy (based on paclitaxel and carboplatin): ovarian cancer has also been fought for years with “molecularly targeted” drugs, the so-called antiangiogenics and Parp inhibitors. The former “cut off” supplies to tumour cells and causes the growth of the disease to stop. The latter prevents neoplastic cells from repairing the DNA damage caused by mutations in the BRCA genes and, in fact, “accompanying” them towards death.

IN WHICH CASES

GENETIC TEST: PREVENTION AND THERAPIES 

Speaking of the “Jolie genes,” we arrive at one of the most significant discoveries regarding ovarian related cancer. “Mutations of the BRCA 1 and 2 genes are responsible for between 10 and 20 per cent of new diagnoses,” declares Sandro Pignata, director of the complexity-gynaecological medical oncology structure of the Institute. National Cancer Foundation Pascale of Naples. He has been Rachele’s “guardian angel” for a decade now.

The genetic exam must be done on all patients because it allows us to develop the most appropriate therapies. But the indication must also concern all first-degree relatives: only in this way can we prevent the onset of other disease cases.” This opportunity allowed Rachele’s children – fictitious names Francesco (44) and Ludovica (40) – to discover that they were carriers of both mutations. In the case of Ludovica, already a mother of two children, it was then decided to proceed with the prophylactic removal of the ovaries.

Ovarian Cancer Tumour Marker Technology

But in the UK, free access to the Ovarian Cancer technology – both for patients with ovarian problems and for their first-degree relatives – should be a right guaranteed uniformly in all Regions. However, in too many cases, thanks to decentralized health management, this still does not happen.

Women must be aware of this opportunity and anticipate rather than postpone checks – concludes the former patient -. With this approach, and have been fortunate enough to meet valid professionals, I learned that the word tumour is not always synonymous with death.”

Please get in touch with us if you would like to share your story on this page.

Story of Anna Maria Di Franco

Let me introduce myself. My name is Matia, and my life is no longer the same as before. Despite having a strong character, there were moments in which I thought I couldn’t do it and didn’t have the strength to fight when I got the results of my CA125 exam. Then, instead, I found the strength not to let myself be knocked down, reacting and setting myself a piece of my life to regain every day.

I am the mother of two wonderful daughters, aged 19 and almost 22; thinking of them brought out the strength and the desire to take back my life, my passions… everything.

Also, I left my job as a volleyball coach but continued to follow my two groups as much as my illness allowed; other coaches followed them, but I continued to feel like part of them.

Sport is a medicine that helps us, and now that I feel quite well (compared to a few months ago) despite still being under therapy, double chemo tablets and in the mood, when I feel better, I go for walks, I go cycling, I go to see volleyball training, gardening… in short, I try to get back to my life slowly. It’s not easy because when I dare pay the price of tiredness, I realise that it’s not the same as before, but I don’t give up; we can go back to having a better life; we have to.

Story of Hiulia Davies: an orange in the belly

There are many ways to tell an illness story. Some abandon the keyboard to pick up pencils and brushes, like Hiulia. A new weekly episode. Here’s who Hiulia is:

Hiulia Davies is a designer originally from the province of Turin who now lives in Marseille, France. Since childhood, she has always found a refuge in her drawing and a way to express her thoughts.

In 2017, while she was living in Brussels, she discovered almost by chance that she had a CA125 level exam. A few years later, she decided to rely on drawing again, but this time to tell her story. The objective is to raise awareness of this tumour and reflect on the importance of listening to our body and its signals.

Story of Luisanda Dell’Aria

My name is Luisa Aria; I am a writer and a state official. I started feeling sick in May 2015, and only in April 2016 did we understand what was happening. For almost a year, I treated gastritis. It was ovarian problems. Damn reality.

I am scared of the responsibility of ignorance, so I decided to write Take Care of Yourself, a true story.

There is too little talk about ovarian markers, almost nothing, and the symptoms are never talked about because they are common to many pathologies that have a check-up and could generate unjustified fears. These symptoms, however, if well explained, constitute the first elementary alarm bell. I’m talking about an almost total lack of information. Necessary information, vital information, information that could save your life.

I’m talking about prevention.

And I do it through a long letter to an imaginary woman I call Donna. I’ll tell you my intimate story, what happened in the last three years and why. My surprise, my dismay, my anger, my fears, my struggles, my desire to live, to feel normal. I chose the name Donna because I address all healthy women, and Donna is you. But I entrust my message, my experience and the knowledge I have acquired in this time and up to today to Donna, and I ask her to take them around to tell them to take advantage of the opportunity to spread the word.

With this autobiography, I’m trying to pass on important information to other women, hoping they will do the same.

Story by Lari Cam

In May 2010, I started, like all of you, with a swollen abdomen, only after a few months of acute pain on the right side. Gastroscopy was performed with a negative result; colonoscopy was avoided due to my desire, then transvaginal ultrasound with an uncertain result. And a Blood check in November 2010: CA 125 = 404, then a CT scan with virtual colonoscopy (Ni Hospital). The result shows a mass on the right side.

December 2010

The Institute, certain diagnosis: stage IV, which will later be confirmed genetically at BRCA1 in the paternal line; in the meantime, I turned 63.

On December 30, I underwent urgent surgery with the removal of several organs described in about fifteen lines of the medical record. This is followed by 6 cycles of chemo – carboplatin + taxol – two paracenteses – a blood transfusion. Toxicity in the feet and hands (paraesthesia) remains. Performed various CT scans and PET scans for checks. At the end of June 2011, the level was perfect. All this journey has always been with my husband at my side. In 2012, CA125 = OK.

A fall means to get up again

In the meantime, I fall, resulting in a broken L1 vertebra plus a small operation, so my body begins to weaken quickly again; I’m small and thin, and then, little by little, I recover again.

In 2013, the the level started to rise, so PET and CT scans were to understand where the recurrence is located; it is at the hepatic hilum. August 2013 start of 6 cycles of chemo with carboplatin + calyx + cortisone. The winter months were really bad, but with spring, my body started to improve a lot, even if, for various reasons, my autonomy was very limited. The various CMC CT tumour marker scans and the levels say so now.

Posted October 14, In summary

I want to inform you of our absolute trust in the doctors of the Milan Cancer Institute; since the first meeting on 03/12/2010, we have never consulted anyone else regarding my case. The oncologists Dr. Abni and Dr. Los know how to inspire empathy in patients and encourage them to accept treatment. For me, it is fundamental; the strong presence of my husband, my niece and recently also a nephew helps me a lot to still feel loved and useful despite my various physical disabilities.

Each of us must find an important motivation to focus on so that we do not think too much about the nerve-wracking tests and treatments we must undergo. Greetings and best wishes to all.