CEA Questions.... Confused about it

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idlehunters
idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I am not real sure what CEA exactly is and why it is important to our bodies. I see you guys post your CEA levels all the time. Does this constitute how many cancer cells are in your blood stream? everywhere? My count was 75 right after surgery. After my 1st chemo treatment it was 65.3. Today he had results from my second treatment and it is 29. I have been thru a 3rd treatment already and my 4th today but he don't have results from those yet. That brings me to another question.... does it always take so long to get CEA results back? Anyway, does this mean I am making progress of sorts? Onc didn't seem real excited about it and just said we will see what is going on next week with PET/CT and go over options then. I feel excited for some reason. I just don't wanna have false hope with a number that don't really mean that much. I did get some other good news though.... what I thought was a hernia next to my belly button turned out to be built up scar tissue from surgery. One less worry is good. Peace!

Jennie

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  • neon356
    neon356 Member Posts: 137 Member
    #2
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    Jennie,
    Carcinoembryonic

    Jennie,

    Carcinoembryonic antigen, or CEA is used as a marker to measure cancer activity in the body. It is not necessarily accurate, and some people show no levels of CEA even when
    there is full blown cancer going on. Mine were level from the time I was first diagnosed til I was NED. Most Docs don't take much stock in the levels, only if they should really change significantly. The fact that your levels are the same or somewhat less certainly is a good sign. Just don't ever get too worried if your levels vary from time to time. Other things can also change your levels- smoking, certain foods, even stress. Hope this helps,
    Carl
  • amcp
    amcp Member Posts: 251 Member
    #3
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    CEA
    Frank's CEA results (after liver resection and lung resection) on July 7/2009 was 39.6. Four weeks easier it was 226.1 and before liver resection it got as high as over 16 thousand. Someone told us it was suppose to be 5 for a smoker. 39.6 is the lowest Frank's has ever been since we found out he had cancer 8/2006. On Aug 26, it will be three years since diagnosis. They told him he only had two years if he had chemo when he first found out. He has beaten that made it another year and still counting on alot more years. Your CEA is going down ...that sounds fantstic. We will keep praying.
    Hugs,
    Anna
  • Patteee
    Patteee Member Posts: 945
    #4
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    CEA
    My first CEA level was 5 months into chemo. The colorectal surgeon at Mayo did it along with CT scan and other tests in preparation for colostomy take down. I can't remember the number- she said it was normal, but elevated. Then my onc here in Mpls said he never does CEA when one is undergoing chemo, that the numbers are not reliable. In the meantime my next CEA was in April and didn't even register, it was like a .05 or something equally low. I think that numbers that are coming down are always good, but the usefulness of this test varies on who you ask!
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #5
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    Patteee said:

    CEA
    My first CEA level was 5 months into chemo. The colorectal surgeon at Mayo did it along with CT scan and other tests in preparation for colostomy take down. I can't remember the number- she said it was normal, but elevated. Then my onc here in Mpls said he never does CEA when one is undergoing chemo, that the numbers are not reliable. In the meantime my next CEA was in April and didn't even register, it was like a .05 or something equally low. I think that numbers that are coming down are always good, but the usefulness of this test varies on who you ask!

    How long does it take?
    The CEA is sent out of office along with other chem tests and your doctor might have the results back the next day or several days later. My onc always has my chems back by disconnect day but has called me the day after chemo when I needed to up my potassium.

    Diane
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #6
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    I think you can take your
    I think you can take your lowering of CEA by half as an encouraging sign. Good luck with the scan.
    --Greg

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