Can someone explain how the CEA numbers work?

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Helen321
Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
edited April 2015 in Colorectal Cancer #1

In 2012 when I had the cancer come back after my first surgery, my CEA was 4.3.  After my second surgery (cancer free) it was a 3.7, it then went to 3.5, then 3.8, then 3.7 and now 4.0.  It's in the normal range which is 0-5.0 however when I had cancer I was at 4.3 so I don't get it.  Should I be concerned that it is now at 4.0? I have heard people say that their number is a 26 or 45 (and I've heard some say 250) so I know 4.0 is an excellent number.  I just want to make sure it's an excellent number without cancer present.  

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  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #2
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    What I understand

    I can only say what my Oncologist says and he wanted mine to be under 3.0 after my liver surgery. If it didn't drop below 3.0 he would have me back on the chemo. 

    Now, that is my Oncologist, and we all know they differ to the extreme. 

    And you know that for some people, CEA is not a good indicator. For me it seems to be, but for you, it could be different. 

    When do you go and see the Oncologist again? 

    Good luck!

    Sue - Trubrit

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #3
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    My CEA WAS OVER 2,000 when first diagnosed

    Since I've had it down to 2.0 aftwr surgery but now it has been rising and chemo's not working and up to 204 right now.  My CEA has always been a good indicator for me, but it isn't for everyone Unfortunately.

    Winter Marie

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,427 Member
    #4
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    I have seen the high numbers

    I am wondering when people are saying 26 or 45 they are missing decimal point or different scale somehow?  

    My CEA was 8.5 (scale 0.0-5.0) about 10 days before my surgery.  With a pretty large tumor and heavy lymph node involvement (over half of 20 that were taken).  I started dropping, last test was 3.9 for me.  Smoking of any type can boost it also.  Not sure where I saw the reference, but people on medicial marijuana can get the bump.  I am not sure how long it takes to leave from either the cancer being removed or cessation of smoking or how much triggers it.  For instance, a cigar on New Year's Eve?  How long does it boost and last?  (A bit tangential to your question, but somehing I have not seen anything about.)

    Real good question.

     

     

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,427 Member
    #5
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    herdizziness said:

    My CEA WAS OVER 2,000 when first diagnosed

    Since I've had it down to 2.0 aftwr surgery but now it has been rising and chemo's not working and up to 204 right now.  My CEA has always been a good indicator for me, but it isn't for everyone Unfortunately.

    Winter Marie

    Guess It Was Not Decimal Point

    Hope things goes well for you with this rise.  I was thinking the numbers mentioned were so high, that I was missing something along the way.

     

  • Easyflip
    Easyflip Member Posts: 588 Member
    #6
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    CEA doesn't work for me

    I've been exactly 1.0 three times at various points in my journey so they stopped testing it. It doesn't seem

    like it it works for me.

    Easyflip/Richard

     

     

  • Fight for my love
    Fight for my love Member Posts: 1,522 Member
    #7
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    my husband's cea was always

    my husband's cea was always low like 1.7 and 2.1 when he was first diagnosed. until he had recurrence, his number started to go up. CEA is a weird thing, in my husband's case, it was not an indicator the first time, but it became an indicator the second time. I also know for some people it is never an indicator.

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #8
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    NewHere said:

    I have seen the high numbers

    I am wondering when people are saying 26 or 45 they are missing decimal point or different scale somehow?  

    My CEA was 8.5 (scale 0.0-5.0) about 10 days before my surgery.  With a pretty large tumor and heavy lymph node involvement (over half of 20 that were taken).  I started dropping, last test was 3.9 for me.  Smoking of any type can boost it also.  Not sure where I saw the reference, but people on medicial marijuana can get the bump.  I am not sure how long it takes to leave from either the cancer being removed or cessation of smoking or how much triggers it.  For instance, a cigar on New Year's Eve?  How long does it boost and last?  (A bit tangential to your question, but somehing I have not seen anything about.)

    Real good question.

     

     

    No decimal point

    The numbers can go extrodinarily high. Just take Winter Marie's numbers; over 2,000 at one point. 

    My highest was 36 at diagnosis, and up to 19 when I had my liver tumour. 

    Sue - Trubrit

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #9
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    NewHere said:

    Guess It Was Not Decimal Point

    Hope things goes well for you with this rise.  I was thinking the numbers mentioned were so high, that I was missing something along the way.

     

    That's why

    That is why I was given the "death" sentence, they felt I had a week or two of life left.  My oncologist remains amazed.  My actual count was 2,634 if I remember rightly.  Chemo is what turned things around and then the surgeries (they said I would never have) have kept me going these past 5 years.

    Winter Marie

  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #10
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    At diagnoses

    My reading was 2.8. Everyone since then has been under 1 except when I had a peptic ulcer and it went up to 1.8. For the past ten years it has ben under0.5 or virtually undetectable. Ron.

  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #11
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    Of possible interest

    CEA Rise Due to Death of Cancer Cells

    http://csn.cancer.org/node/262501

     

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,427 Member
    #12
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    herdizziness said:

    That's why

    That is why I was given the "death" sentence, they felt I had a week or two of life left.  My oncologist remains amazed.  My actual count was 2,634 if I remember rightly.  Chemo is what turned things around and then the surgeries (they said I would never have) have kept me going these past 5 years.

    Winter Marie

    Wow

    I am so glad it all worked out.  Amazing.

     

  • LindaK.
    LindaK. Member Posts: 506 Member
    #13
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    Try not to follow it too closely

    My husband's 2nd oncologist (GI Specialist at much larger facility) told us CEA is only a good indicator about half the time.  My husband's CEA never went over 10, but while he was inpatient last January and a large tumor was growing in his small intestines (and misdiagnosed as constipation) his CEA actually dropped.  We stopped worrying about it after that.  Of course, fools at previous hospital did not help at all and he had to wait 10 days for surgery there.  2nd oncologist said they take the CEA into account with several other factors.

    Linda

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #14
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    And off I go

    Today (April 15th) I have my blood draw and my CEA checked. In fact I'm I am off out the door in 15 minutes.

    Its always a little unnerving. I know I can go and pick up my results in a couple of days, but this time I may wait until my appointment on the 22nd.  - I said that last time, and ended up picking up my results and reading them. I'm terribly impatient.  I did it this time last year, and was crushed when my CEA had jumped 10 points. I knew that was bad news, and I had rather the Doctor told me. Oh well. We shall see what I do this time. -

    So, CEA, here I come.

    Sue - Trubrit

  • Easyflip
    Easyflip Member Posts: 588 Member
    #15
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    Trubrit said:

    And off I go

    Today (April 15th) I have my blood draw and my CEA checked. In fact I'm I am off out the door in 15 minutes.

    Its always a little unnerving. I know I can go and pick up my results in a couple of days, but this time I may wait until my appointment on the 22nd.  - I said that last time, and ended up picking up my results and reading them. I'm terribly impatient.  I did it this time last year, and was crushed when my CEA had jumped 10 points. I knew that was bad news, and I had rather the Doctor told me. Oh well. We shall see what I do this time. -

    So, CEA, here I come.

    Sue - Trubrit

    Good luck

    Sue! I'm sure you'll be fine. Keep us updated and enjoy this beautiful day!

    Easyflip/Richard

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    #16
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    herdizziness said:

    That's why

    That is why I was given the "death" sentence, they felt I had a week or two of life left.  My oncologist remains amazed.  My actual count was 2,634 if I remember rightly.  Chemo is what turned things around and then the surgeries (they said I would never have) have kept me going these past 5 years.

    Winter Marie

    Wow that's insane.  I mean I

    Wow that's insane.  I mean I read that bigger tumors present bigger numbers and so that all makes sense but still that number is insane.  

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    #17
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    John23 said:

    Of possible interest

    CEA Rise Due to Death of Cancer Cells

    http://csn.cancer.org/node/262501

     

    I saw that, thanks John.  I'm

    I saw that, thanks John.  I'm two years out from the surgery and I didn't fit in this category either.  Mine went lower.  What I'm taking is I am not a good candidate for CEA having any value.  I'm just going to not worry about it at all.  I have two scans coming up in July, I'll just wait for those to be my indicator.  

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    #18
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    Trubrit said:

    And off I go

    Today (April 15th) I have my blood draw and my CEA checked. In fact I'm I am off out the door in 15 minutes.

    Its always a little unnerving. I know I can go and pick up my results in a couple of days, but this time I may wait until my appointment on the 22nd.  - I said that last time, and ended up picking up my results and reading them. I'm terribly impatient.  I did it this time last year, and was crushed when my CEA had jumped 10 points. I knew that was bad news, and I had rather the Doctor told me. Oh well. We shall see what I do this time. -

    So, CEA, here I come.

    Sue - Trubrit

    Oh darn Sue, well let's hope

    Oh darn Sue, well let's hope for a low, low, low CEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     

    I'm just going to ignore my CEA going forward unless it is alarming.  4.0 is definitely not alarming.  I have two scans in July, I'll just wait for those and get on with living.  It really is beautiful out.

  • Cathleen Mary
    Cathleen Mary Member Posts: 827 Member
    #19
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    Helen321 said:

    Oh darn Sue, well let's hope

    Oh darn Sue, well let's hope for a low, low, low CEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     

    I'm just going to ignore my CEA going forward unless it is alarming.  4.0 is definitely not alarming.  I have two scans in July, I'll just wait for those and get on with living.  It really is beautiful out.

     
    CEA is  supposedly a good

     

    CEA is  supposedly a good indicator for me because it was elevated pre-op to 7.8 and retuned to 1.0 post op.  I am 5 years out and it hovers around 5.0. Scans clear. Go figure. It seems to me it is best believed coupled with scan. 

    Good luck Sue and Helen. You're right, Helen, getting on with living, whenever we can, is a very good option.

    CM

  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #20
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    Helen321 said:

    I saw that, thanks John.  I'm

    I saw that, thanks John.  I'm two years out from the surgery and I didn't fit in this category either.  Mine went lower.  What I'm taking is I am not a good candidate for CEA having any value.  I'm just going to not worry about it at all.  I have two scans coming up in July, I'll just wait for those to be my indicator.  

    Good luck!

    Standard scans (not “pet scans”) are the way to go!

    (don’t let them scare you into treatments you don’t need)

     

    Good luck; I wish you well!!!

     

    John23

     

  • thingy45
    thingy45 Member Posts: 632 Member
    #21
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    CEA

    hi, my CEA count was 18 when diagnosed stage III, after they took 10 lbs at three different places and half my colon, it remains at approx. 1.1 I did decline the chemo/ radiation at the time. I was told up to 5 is Normal.

    strange the difference in U.S. All.

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