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Question

tootsie1
tootsie1 CSN Member Posts: 5,044 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My CEA results were .5, which I know is excellent. Just wondering. Does somebody who's never had cancer have a .0? Can't find anywhere that says one way or the other.
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Comments

  • kristasplace
    kristasplace CSN Member Posts: 957 Member
    #2
    Wow, that's a really good question! My CEA is also at .5, and i just assumed that was a normal number, even for people who don't have cancer. I wonder if it IS possible to have a 0 CEA? And would that mean that person has no carcinogenics in his blood at all? I will ask my onc about it on Thursday.

    Many hugs,
    Krista
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  • pamness
    pamness CSN Member Posts: 524 Member
    #3
    I can't formally answer your question. But I am told that CEA numbers, apart from being not particularly reliable for many people, vary a lot. My norm is 3.4 - anything below 3.7 is considered "normal". I was told that anything under that 3.7 causes not much concern. Since I never had a CEA done before I had cancer, I don't know if mine used to be different. I am currently cancer free. So I don't think that weather or not you had cancer would change your sort of base line or acceptable/normal CEA, but I don't know that for sure. Great question.
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  • KathiM
    KathiM CSN Member Posts: 8,027 Member
    #4
    I'm one who's CEA has never been an indicator. Before treatment, after diagnosis of stage III CRC, my CEA was .7

    Normal for non-smokers is under 2.5....smokers, under 5.0

    Hugs, Kathi
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  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 CSN Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #5
    Thanks for the replies. I'll be interested in whether we ever get an answer to that. It's great to have someplace to go to for answers, or at least discussions. *smiles* By the way, I'm still naked happy dancing here. Still in pain, but whatever the heck that is, it will have to wait. Today, I know I am GOOD, as far as cancer is concerned. *hugs everyone in sight due to relief*

    Gail
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  • StacyGleaso
    StacyGleaso CSN Member Posts: 1,233 Member
    #6
    I cannot answer that, either. But, look at this link for some information about CEAs in general....

    http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/features/ref_ranges-2.html
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  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova CSN Member Posts: 904 Member
    #7
    Tootsie,
    I have never heard of anyone having a CEA of zero. Since my last surgery mine has remained at or less than 0.5. I think if you go out in the general population, the CEAs range from "less than 0.5 to 2.5 or so...That is how they determined the "normal range" being under 2.5 for non-smokers and under 5 for smokers. They just went out and took a random sample of cancer free folks and that is how they came up with those numbers. So, I am quite sure that everyone produces some CEA.
    Ask your doc though and let us all know what he/she says.
    -Susan H
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