CEA Levels

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grandma713
grandma713 Member Posts: 105
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi again,
Thanks so much for all your responses to my question about my tests. I went to the onc on Friday. He is not concerned with the jump from 1.5 to 1.7. My CEA level was 1.4 when I was first diagnosed. Also as we looked over my history, it was went up and down several times, but never above 1.9. I did ask about the CT scan and my onc said it was not necessary. He felt that way because my hemoglobin was 14.4, all my other levels including liver panels etc were all normal. He said that if any of the other bloodwork had been off, he would have ordered more tests. I do have an appointment at the end of April with my gastro doctor and we will schedule my colonoscopy then. Unless something shows up there, I am supposed to go back and see the onc in 6 months, which means September.

To answer the question about whether I am "frantic" no I'm not. I have always been franny on this board.

Thanks again for all of you for your insight. It is really hard to determine the best thing to do and when to argue with your doctor. As for when my last CT scan was, it was over a little over a year ago. The only thing they saw was gallstones. ugh.

Love to each of you.

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  • changing
    changing Member Posts: 134
    #2
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    HMMMM. very interesting story. I've written a lot of questions on this board about cea counts. What interests me is what stage do you have, when did your chemo end and when were you dx'd? I thought everyone would see their onc every 3 months for at least a year after the chemo ends and have a CT scan after the chemo...if ct was ok and cea not rising (providing that's a good indicator for you)then no CT scans for a year, UNLESS there is a significant rise on any of those quarterly appts. Then again I don't see how your other blood work has ANYTHING to do with your CEA! As far as I know,hemoglobin has NOTHING to do with the cea at all! I wouldn't panic if I werew you because an increase of 2 tenths really isn't that much and your cea counts have been moving slightly up & down . Usually it's when they double in number then I'd be calling the onc back or he'd be calling you. Of course I wouldn't wait 6 months for another cea count either, esp. since it is rising a bit! Keep in touch. I'll be looking for you:)
  • grandma713
    grandma713 Member Posts: 105
    #3
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    changing said:

    HMMMM. very interesting story. I've written a lot of questions on this board about cea counts. What interests me is what stage do you have, when did your chemo end and when were you dx'd? I thought everyone would see their onc every 3 months for at least a year after the chemo ends and have a CT scan after the chemo...if ct was ok and cea not rising (providing that's a good indicator for you)then no CT scans for a year, UNLESS there is a significant rise on any of those quarterly appts. Then again I don't see how your other blood work has ANYTHING to do with your CEA! As far as I know,hemoglobin has NOTHING to do with the cea at all! I wouldn't panic if I werew you because an increase of 2 tenths really isn't that much and your cea counts have been moving slightly up & down . Usually it's when they double in number then I'd be calling the onc back or he'd be calling you. Of course I wouldn't wait 6 months for another cea count either, esp. since it is rising a bit! Keep in touch. I'll be looking for you:)

    I was Stage II, no chemo, no lymph node involvement. They actually put it as a Stage I/II because the tumor almost penetrated the colon wall. The bloodwork I am referring to is the liver panels..which were normal and also my hemoglobin, which would indicate anemia again. This is how I was diagnosed. I dont think the CEA levels are a good indicator for me either. Thanks for your response
  • changing
    changing Member Posts: 134
    #4
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    grandma713 said:

    I was Stage II, no chemo, no lymph node involvement. They actually put it as a Stage I/II because the tumor almost penetrated the colon wall. The bloodwork I am referring to is the liver panels..which were normal and also my hemoglobin, which would indicate anemia again. This is how I was diagnosed. I dont think the CEA levels are a good indicator for me either. Thanks for your response

    Yea, sounds like the normal progression for a stage 1 or 2 . I'm a 3c with 16 positive nodes. Stay tuned to the board though and keep us all up to date from time to time:)Mannie

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