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cea markers
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Apr 19, 2010 - 12:31 pm
Going for my cea markers tomorrow, 3rd anniversary of diagnosis for stage 3 anal cancer. Good results from treatments and so far so good!! I am more nervous this time about the test results than I have been before, don't know why, call it a feeling. Looking forward to that 5 year milestone. Very thankful for finding this site and all the posts I read on here of encouragement and advice, it's much easier to express feelings here than with those around me cause they don't really understand the anxiety we sometimes feel. Every day is a special day and my prayers are with everyone in or post treatment. So glad we are not alone |
Joined: Jan 2010
I want to wish you the best with the markers tomorrow. I hope your good news continues!
Joined: Feb 2009
Is this marker test a normal follow up procedure? What is it? None of my onc docs have mentioned it.
ACW
Joined: Apr 2010
cea markers is the blood work that is done at first in 3 month intervals (1st year) then six month intervals, it measures the cancer cells in your bloodstream and is an indicator of how well you are doing. I think most doctors do it at least for the first five years at 6 month intervals then yearly. If it raises a flag then they can order more tests to see what is going on. Good luck
Joined: Nov 2009
This is interesting. I was told by the oncologist that I used when originally dx'd that there are no CEA markers for anal cancer. Have not had any of the Drs. at Moffitt mention anything about them either. They have certainly taken their fair share of blood. I hope others will share their experience on this subject.
Joined: Apr 2010
I have never had CEA markers taken. I also read somewhere or heard on another board there are none for SCC of the anus. MtnMama, can you ask about this when you go ion? It might be a feel-good thing, or it might be something we all need!
Winnie
Joined: Jan 2010
My oncologist has done CEA markers on me 2 or 3 times. Although they may not indicate a possible recurrence of anal cancer at the tumor site, he told me that he does them to monitor for mets to the liver/lungs.
Joined: Jul 2009
I was also told that CEA markers aren't used for anal cancer.
Liz
Joined: Apr 2010
ok, I got the real scoop from my doc...the cea they do is to check for liver mets and also colorectal which was secondary, anal being the primary and because I had lymph involvement. It still amazes me what some docs do and do NOT tell us and if we don't know what to ask we remain ignorant of so many things. I am grateful to all of you for your input and help :-). Still don't have the results, hopefully today and it's all good.
Christine
Joined: Dec 2009
Thank you for the update. I have never had CEA markers either....
I'm going to ask my onc about it though, since I have also had lung cancer, and the anal eventually spread to my liver. Again, we learn more from each other......
Joined: Jun 2009
I have had one CEA blood test. My oncologist told me that it does not show up anal cancer but it can show if any cancer cells might of spread to other parts. He didn't specifically say "liver" or "lungs" but that is what I assumed because this cancer is known to go to those two spots.
Joined: Apr 2010
I had liver mets, and rectal "polyp" (4.9cm) and no nodes...and have never to my knowledge been tested for CEA markers. You think I would have been all along esp as my case at the time was considered rare.
Winnie
Joined: Jul 2009
I asked the docs again about CEA markers and anal cancer and the same answer - it's not used for anal cancer. If the anal cancer goes to the liver and/or lung, it's still anal cancer so not sure how CEA could be used. It is a marker for other cancers and maybe it's used as a guideline for other activity from different cancers.
Liz
Joined: May 2013
Hi all,
First post here - 6 year survivor of stage 4 anal cancer. Mets to my lungs and kidney so far.
Just asked my doc about markers for anal cancer and he said there are none. He said studies have not shown CEA to be valid and that the only result of following it would be to me make me nervous.
Damn - I really would love to have a marker to watch!
Mark
Joined: Jan 2010
Congratulations on being a 6-year survivor of stage 4 disease! That is quite wonderful to hear. I hope you are holding your own against the disease and doing well.
As for CEA being a good marker for anal cancer, I have to agree wtih your doc--it's not. It is primarily used for lung and colon cancers.
Joined: Aug 2012
Never heard of cea markers and I have had cancer twice and been to 3 hospitals. Hmmmm.
Joined: Apr 2012
I have had CEA testing every 6 weeks since diagnosis. That has been changed to every 4 months. I was told by doctors it is not an accurate test. My markers went up and it scared me to death. Doc said if it is going to worry me, don't have test. Still want it. I am stage 4, mets to liver. Maybe it won't work for anal cancer, but it does bring me comfort knowing it could show a new cancer.
Joined: Jan 2010
The CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) has been around for decades. I worked for an internist back in the late 70's/early 80's who used to do this blood test on his patients quite often. I guess there must be some validity to it, otherwise, no doctors would still be doing it. That said, I'm not sure what the percentage is of it actually pointing to a specific cancer.