CEA

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iluvmms
iluvmms Member Posts: 134 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I had blood work done just before the 1st chemo and just got the CEA results. Its 78.1. I am concerned. It was only 39 before they did the colon resection. I have tumor in liver that they are looking at doing a resection. What does this mean??

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  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #2
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    I've heard from my onc that
    I've heard from my onc that sometimes surgery can make your CEA levels high for awhile.

    I've also heard from my onc that during chemo, the CEA level can also rise as well.

    I would see what the next few CEA's turn out to be and see if they start heading down - they should.

    I had these things happen to me during a couple of surgeries and treatments, and that was the explanation to me about those rising numbers.

    Don't worry too much yet - be vigilant and bring it up to your doc and continue to watch it. I had chemo where it went up after I did it and where it went down too.

    -Craig
  • iluvmms
    iluvmms Member Posts: 134 Member
    #3
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    Sundanceh said:

    I've heard from my onc that
    I've heard from my onc that sometimes surgery can make your CEA levels high for awhile.

    I've also heard from my onc that during chemo, the CEA level can also rise as well.

    I would see what the next few CEA's turn out to be and see if they start heading down - they should.

    I had these things happen to me during a couple of surgeries and treatments, and that was the explanation to me about those rising numbers.

    Don't worry too much yet - be vigilant and bring it up to your doc and continue to watch it. I had chemo where it went up after I did it and where it went down too.

    -Craig

    CEA
    This is just so overwhelming! They just call and say your CEA is 78.1 and I know that to be high so I panic! As far as I know I only had the 2 growths. The one in my colon, resected a month ago, and one large one in my liver, right lobe. I go tomorrow to Moffitt Cancer Center for a surgical consult (2nd opinion). I just started my chemo on thursday and I just like as much information as I can get.
    Thanks for all of the comments
  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    #4
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    iluvmms said:

    CEA
    This is just so overwhelming! They just call and say your CEA is 78.1 and I know that to be high so I panic! As far as I know I only had the 2 growths. The one in my colon, resected a month ago, and one large one in my liver, right lobe. I go tomorrow to Moffitt Cancer Center for a surgical consult (2nd opinion). I just started my chemo on thursday and I just like as much information as I can get.
    Thanks for all of the comments

    CEA is not the only thing that's looked at
    I'm so sorry that you've been experiencing getting information, like CEA results, without an explanation. I agree totally that it can be unnerving. I'm glad that you go tomorrow for a surgical consult. The fact that you are being considered as a liver resection candidate is awesome (how our parameters change while living with cancer-grateful for a major surgery!). Craig's comments above are what I've heard from my onc as well as to what can cause fluctuations in CEA levels. My oncologist never seems very worked about it. I'll be wisihng you well for tomorrow while you go for your appointment. Ask lots of questions.

    all the best, Leslie
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #5
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    iluvmms said:

    CEA
    This is just so overwhelming! They just call and say your CEA is 78.1 and I know that to be high so I panic! As far as I know I only had the 2 growths. The one in my colon, resected a month ago, and one large one in my liver, right lobe. I go tomorrow to Moffitt Cancer Center for a surgical consult (2nd opinion). I just started my chemo on thursday and I just like as much information as I can get.
    Thanks for all of the comments

    I think the high CEA is
    I think the high CEA is explained by the tumor in your liver that you already know about. This CEA test is probably useful mainly as a baseline, to compare with later tests you'll be having after the liver tumor is treated. The fact that your tumor has caused a high CEA test result may be a good thing, because it suggests that, for you, the CEA will later be a good diagnostic for the presence or absence of cancer.

    --Greg

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