Can the cancer of the ovary be detected by a blood test?
There is a blood test called CA-125 test, which is used to detect the concentration of CA-125 (a protein which is found at high levels in most ovarian cancer cells). If your CA-125 levels is elevates in blood stream, there is a possibility that you are having cancer of ovary. However, other disorders such as endometriosis, benign (non-cancerous) ovarian cyst, first trimester of pregnancy and inflammatory of pelvis can also produce high levels of CA-125 in blood stream and give a false positive result. Therefore, the CA-125 test should not be used alone to confirm ovarian cancer, but to be used with transvaginal ultrasound scan and laparoscopy.
