CEA and new spots on scan

robertwoitas
robertwoitas Member Posts: 17
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Had my surgery on 13 November, (got a illeostomy) after released from the hospital i was re-admitted several times for diferent reasons, tube put in the gall bladder (that will come out later), hemotoma in the pelvic region, low blood pressure and dehydration. Finnally started chemo. On my third treatment I was told my CEA level was at 22. The highest it had ever been was prior to the surgery (11). After the surgery it ws down to .02. I got a ct scan and it showed two new spots one on the liver and one on the upper left lung. Both the Oncologist and the surgeons feel it is nothing, but combined with the CEA level I'm scared to death. Pet scan was ordered and so i wait some more.
It just seems everytime I turn around there is more bad news. getign really frustrated with the lack of positive progress.
feeling real down.

Comments

  • mommyof2kds
    mommyof2kds Member Posts: 519
    #2
    Sorry to hear about
    Sorry to hear about everything you are going through. Keep your chin up, sending positive energy your way.
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #3
    mommyof2kds said:

    Sorry to hear about
    Sorry to hear about everything you are going through. Keep your chin up, sending positive energy your way.

    CEA Levels
    CEA levels do not dictate activity in a lot of people so they are just another way of maybe catching some type of activity going on or nothing at all. We all seek to worry more than we need to so take the advice of the Onc and Surgeon and until it is fact lets say the glass is half full instead of half empty......We could worry ourself into oblivion if we tried to ..Relax and enjoy your life. Whatever happens will happen so enjoy the good healthy feelings you have when you get them. God Bless ya bud.......
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #4
    Buzzard said:

    CEA Levels
    CEA levels do not dictate activity in a lot of people so they are just another way of maybe catching some type of activity going on or nothing at all. We all seek to worry more than we need to so take the advice of the Onc and Surgeon and until it is fact lets say the glass is half full instead of half empty......We could worry ourself into oblivion if we tried to ..Relax and enjoy your life. Whatever happens will happen so enjoy the good healthy feelings you have when you get them. God Bless ya bud.......

    CEA
    My CEA levels were below .05 mark so that it couldn't even be measured for cancer. So some CEA levels work for some and not for others and when they go up in some it could be different reasons for them going up - not just cancer.

    Kim
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #5
    CEA not the end all
    As mentioned, the CEA is just one way of sometimes measuring things. You can have a very low CEA and still be in trouble. Mine BTW is 1.9. I had one spot in my lung that was removed by RFA (Radio Frequency Ablation) where they stick a needle in it while doing a CT scan and the needle heats up and basically fries the spot. And that's only if it turns out to be something. As difficult as it can be at times, try to enjoy the good things you have. Treat yourself to something and try to focus on the positive.
    -phil
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #6
    Hope they're right
    I understand your terror, but let's pray the surgeons and the oncologist are right in thinking it's not a problem. Let us know! We'll be praying for you.

    *hugs*
    Gail

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