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CEA Level/# of mets in liver

jcavanaugh
jcavanaugh CSN Member Posts: 100
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
This is a question going out to everyone who has had more than one met in their liver and whose cea level is a marker for them. CEA level has been a definite marker for my dad. We just received some conflicting results. His cea is 5.5 and the surgeon believes there are 8-10 mets on a pet scan. Background - in Feb 2005, he had a cea of 2.8 and one barely visible met on a pet scan that was ablated. Any information would be helpful. Thanks!
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Comments

  • stage4mom
    stage4mom CSN Member Posts: 22 Member
    #2
    After surgery to remove the tumor in the colon, my son's CEA level went from 15 down to 5.5. At the time they saw one spot on his liver, but after more tests we have learned that he has four spots, three on the right lobe and one on the left. Only one showed on the original scan, two showed up on the PET scan, and then finally the MRI showed four. He is having a resection in about a month. Sorry, I don't think this helps much, but I noticed that your Dad's CEA level was the exact same as my son's, and both of them have more mets than what was first thought.

    Jane
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  • vinny3
    vinny3 CSN Member Posts: 928 Member
    #3
    The CEA level is only a gross indicator of the amount of cancer. For a number of us our CEA level has been very low when our cancer was diagnosed. It probably does give a better indicator when there are mets. If any question you are still better off getting the scans as you have done.
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  • impactzone
    impactzone CSN Member Posts: 558 Member
    #4
    After colon surgery I have a CEA of 10 with 1 liver met. I have not started chemo yet but will soon. and then hopefully, surgery.
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