CEA

I only know about smoking
Tina,

Smokers have higher baseline CEA levels, that's about all I know on the subject. For what it's worth, I know you are bummed out to see an increase in Jorge's numbers, but a 7 still seems pretty good to me...

Strength and love,

Ray

I saw my surgeon after
I saw my surgeon after treatment 11 for a consult for the take down of my colostomy. She did a bunch of tests, including a CEA- I believe it was like 5.4, she told me that wasn't bad but to make sure my oncologist knew of it. So the following week I told my oncologist and he got all bent out of shape. as in, "why did she do a CEA?" ME: I Dunno! Oncologist:, "well first the CEA is MY test, not her test!" and second, "I NEVER do CEA while a patient is undergoing treatment because they can be so INACCURATE due to the chemo!"

So I do know a lot of oncologist do the CEA as it seems sorta routine while one is in treatment. But according to my doctor, as long as I was on chemo the CEA results were not reliable and he never did it until I was DONE with chemo. Now it is a part of the post cancer testing, currently I get one every 6 months. The highest it was was the 5.4 (although I am sure it was done pre-surgery, but don't remember that number. And my last CEA was in Jan and it was 2.1

daBeachBum said:

I only know about smoking
Tina,

Smokers have higher baseline CEA levels, that's about all I know on the subject. For what it's worth, I know you are bummed out to see an increase in Jorge's numbers, but a 7 still seems pretty good to me...

Strength and love,

Ray

LOL
I had quit smoking for several months, my CEA kept rising slowly, I took up smoking again (don't recommend it, not at all, trying to quit again)and damned if my CEA didn't go back down to 2.1.
So I'm assuming it was STRESS from quitting that made mine rise.
So Tina it could be Stress or infection, or the chemo, the thing is, is to make sure not to worry over it too much, it'll just cause more stress for you and Jorge!!
Love to ya girl,
Winter Marie