Elevated CEA with clean scans
I came to this forum because I am perplexed with my CEA results. My cancer history and CEA results are shown below. My CEA has always been normal for the last four years. Suddenly last week, it was measured at 15.6 and today (after 5 days) at 17.3 ! It seems to be going up by multiple points in few days. Anyone in the same boat.?How long did CEA rise for you guys before a scan picked up some tumor?
I feel fine but I worry I have some unseen tumor somewhere that is growing . I have a colonoscopy in a week
-------------
4/18 to 5/22/17: chemoradiation - Xeloda 1800mg twice a day for 25 days, 200 Cgy/day
6/28/17: biopsy shows no cancer
8/09/17: MRI - no primary tumor left, starts wait and watch
8/17/17 to 12/1/17: mop-up chemo with Folfox and oxaliplatin (IV infusion), every two weeks
5/19 expanding right lung nodule, 8mm
8/19 VATS wedge
9/19, 12/19, 4/20, 7/20, 1/21- Clean CT, MRI, NED
7/17/21- Clean scans, CEA 15.6 !
7/22/21- CEA 17.3 !
Comments
-
Hello again
I had a recurrence after my surgery/chemo/radiatoin. It happened on my second CT scan. My first being clear. It was my CEA jumping by leaps and bounds, that alerted my Oncologist. I mean it went from 1 - 10 - 20 within a two week period.
Unfortunately, feeling fine is not an indicator at all. I felt fine, right up until they found a tumour blocking my colon. And I felt great, right up until they told me there was a tumour in my liver. That is why they call Cancer 'The silent killer'.
I am glad you are getting a colonoscopy, and if that is clear, I hope they follow up with a PET scan.
CEA can be very unpredictabe, and something like an infection can cause it to rise, so it isn't always an indication of Cancer, but definitely something to check out.
Nothing any of us say will alleviate the fear that will dog you, until you find out what is going on, if anything.
I wish you all the best, and hope that it is nothing more than a hidden infection, somewhere in your body.
Let us know how things turn out.
TRU
P.S. My recurrence was SEVEN YEARS AGO and I have had clear scans ever since. So, even if 'it is back' it is does NOT mean that the end is nigh.
0 -
Thank you Trubrit for your
Thank you Trubrit for your response and very kind remarks.
If this is a recurrence, it would be my second recurrence.
Primary diagnosis was in colon- Four years ago. CEA stayed less than 0.5 before , during and after treatment.
FIrst recurrence was two years ago- solitary lung nodule. CEA was normal before and after treatment.
If the latest result is a recurrence, it might be elsewhere - hence the different behavior of CEA. Usually liver mets elevate CEA. My CT says everything looks normal in the liver, who knows when something will show up in the scan??!!!1 -
Fearsreekanth said:Thank you Trubrit for your
Thank you Trubrit for your response and very kind remarks.
If this is a recurrence, it would be my second recurrence.
Primary diagnosis was in colon- Four years ago. CEA stayed less than 0.5 before , during and after treatment.
FIrst recurrence was two years ago- solitary lung nodule. CEA was normal before and after treatment.
If the latest result is a recurrence, it might be elsewhere - hence the different behavior of CEA. Usually liver mets elevate CEA. My CT says everything looks normal in the liver, who knows when something will show up in the scan??!!!It is no fun when these things creep up on us. I have found in my case CT scans have not picked up my cancer. My CEA is running high for me 4.7 nor
mal runs about 3.2. My colonoscopy and CT scans came back clear but my PET scans 2 months apart show suspicious active malignancy at a the orginal resection sight. 2 sights one the size of a peanut and one a grape. I don't want to have exploratory surgery without knowing what it is. I live in Nevada and they have no major cancer centers here. I have been referred to Univ CA Irvine Cancer Center. I have an appt the 30th and will let you know what I find out. Hope you can have a PET scan. None of these tests are 100% so we need to be advocates for ourselves. The odd thing with me is I have been NED since 2007.
Praying for no more recurrances. Try to enjoy everyday!
0 -
CEA unpredictable
I also had very low CEA numbers before, during, and after treatment. Without actually seeing the tumor and based on everything else, blood tests etc, there was nothing wrong. I had colrectal cancer and a large brain tumor. Go figure, lol.I have to wonder, is it specific to certain locations of cancer or does it depend more on the person's makeup as to what the numbers mean. Hang in there. More than likely it's nothing but the usual oscilations of what ever it is.
0 -
CEA
CEA can be unreliable in a lot of people, just like you said the first time it was completely normal and now it is rising without showing anything. I'm glad that you are getting a colonoscopy just to rule out any hidden polyps that might be growing and not showing on scans. Is your doctor concerned regarding the results? You might ask them what they think. I'm wishing you the best outcome for your scope next week. Please keep us informed.
Kim
0 -
Maybe a liver MRI. I havesreekanth said:Thank you Trubrit for your
Thank you Trubrit for your response and very kind remarks.
If this is a recurrence, it would be my second recurrence.
Primary diagnosis was in colon- Four years ago. CEA stayed less than 0.5 before , during and after treatment.
FIrst recurrence was two years ago- solitary lung nodule. CEA was normal before and after treatment.
If the latest result is a recurrence, it might be elsewhere - hence the different behavior of CEA. Usually liver mets elevate CEA. My CT says everything looks normal in the liver, who knows when something will show up in the scan??!!!Maybe a liver MRI. I have read about liver MRI's showing mets when CT scan can't pick it up.
0 -
My oncologist is definitelyAnnabelle41415 said:CEA
CEA can be unreliable in a lot of people, just like you said the first time it was completely normal and now it is rising without showing anything. I'm glad that you are getting a colonoscopy just to rule out any hidden polyps that might be growing and not showing on scans. Is your doctor concerned regarding the results? You might ask them what they think. I'm wishing you the best outcome for your scope next week. Please keep us informed.
Kim
Thank you Annabelle for respondinfg. My oncologist is definitely concerned. One step at a time. Colonoscopy in a week
0 -
Yes, I have read somedarcher said:CEA unpredictable
I also had very low CEA numbers before, during, and after treatment. Without actually seeing the tumor and based on everything else, blood tests etc, there was nothing wrong. I had colrectal cancer and a large brain tumor. Go figure, lol.I have to wonder, is it specific to certain locations of cancer or does it depend more on the person's makeup as to what the numbers mean. Hang in there. More than likely it's nothing but the usual oscilations of what ever it is.
Yes, I have read some material that says that CEA is highly sensitive to liver and bone lesions. (compared to lung). Your story about brain tumor worries me. I hope you are okay. Thank you for responding darcher
0 -
Ask your Onc about a PET scansreekanth said:Thanks SnapDraon for
Thanks SnapDraon for responding. I also think it is likely a liver met. My CT and MRI taken on same day as CEA shows nothing. I will ask my doc when he thinks we should image it again...perhaps I can have the same images reinterpreted by another radiologist
Insurances hate to pay up for them, but it is worth the fight.
Tru
0 -
As Tru said maybe PET is thesreekanth said:Thanks SnapDraon for
Thanks SnapDraon for responding. I also think it is likely a liver met. My CT and MRI taken on same day as CEA shows nothing. I will ask my doc when he thinks we should image it again...perhaps I can have the same images reinterpreted by another radiologist
As Tru said maybe PET is the other option to find out where it is.
CEA climbs like that is def an alert to something. Be your best advocate. No one cares about you more than YOU.
Have you looked into ctDNA testing? I have read so much about it. It has sensitivity of 90 something percent whereas CEA is only 40-60 something %. It can detect reoccurence up to 8 months before anything shows up on a scan. To me that means not missing the surgery boat.
Are your other blood panels looking good?
0 -
Thanks SnapDraon forSnapDragon2 said:Maybe a liver MRI. I have
Maybe a liver MRI. I have read about liver MRI's showing mets when CT scan can't pick it up.
Thanks SnapDraon for responding. I also think it is likely a liver met. My CT and MRI taken on same day as CEA shows nothing. I will ask my doc when he thinks we should image it again...perhaps I can have the same images reinterpreted by another radiologist
0 -
Other blood panel results look goodSnapDragon2 said:As Tru said maybe PET is the
As Tru said maybe PET is the other option to find out where it is.
CEA climbs like that is def an alert to something. Be your best advocate. No one cares about you more than YOU.
Have you looked into ctDNA testing? I have read so much about it. It has sensitivity of 90 something percent whereas CEA is only 40-60 something %. It can detect reoccurence up to 8 months before anything shows up on a scan. To me that means not missing the surgery boat.
Are your other blood panels looking good?
In preparation for the colonoscopy on 8/2, I had two test results- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel and CBC with platelets and differential. THis was done Friday 7/30/21. For both tests, all values were in normal range
0 -
Good news on that front.
Pristine colon. How wonderful! Who would have guessed that one could get so excited about hearing those words.
Definitely mention a PET scan to your Oncologist. Then be prepared for a fight with the insurance. OK, I guess everyone doesn't get the push back from them, but often times they think they know better than the Oncs.
I'm sure he will check your CEA again. Maybe this time is will go down.
Wishing you the best.
Tru
0 -
Thank you for your adviceTrubrit said:Good news on that front.
Pristine colon. How wonderful! Who would have guessed that one could get so excited about hearing those words.
Definitely mention a PET scan to your Oncologist. Then be prepared for a fight with the insurance. OK, I guess everyone doesn't get the push back from them, but often times they think they know better than the Oncs.
I'm sure he will check your CEA again. Maybe this time is will go down.
Wishing you the best.
Tru
Thank you for your advice TrueBrit
0 -
The PET scan found a
The PET scan found a hypermetabolic lymph node in the pelvis measuring 1.6cmx1.2 cm (near obturator chain in pelvic region) that was ruled 'recurrence' unless proven otherwise. I am so bummed. Has this kind of met been treated for any of you? If yes, please share details. I have not met with my oncologist yet.
The PET did not find any other lesions or lymph mets0 -
sorry to hear thatsreekanth said:The PET scan found a
The PET scan found a hypermetabolic lymph node in the pelvis measuring 1.6cmx1.2 cm (near obturator chain in pelvic region) that was ruled 'recurrence' unless proven otherwise. I am so bummed. Has this kind of met been treated for any of you? If yes, please share details. I have not met with my oncologist yet.
The PET did not find any other lesions or lymph metssorry to hear that
0 -
I'm sorry to hear about the recurrence. I had Stage 1 colorectal cancer in 2007. I had surgery and stayed clear until 2021. My CEA was elevated for the first time in all those years, along with extreme abdominal pain. Eventually an ER trip and scans showed Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. A major blow after being clean for 14 years. Hanging in there, doing chemo and praying for the best. I wish you good health! Keep us posted!
0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.6K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 445 Bladder Cancer
- 307 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.5K Breast Cancer
- 395 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 13K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.3K Kidney Cancer
- 669 Leukemia
- 791 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 235 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 56 Pancreatic Cancer
- 486 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.4K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 536 Sarcoma
- 725 Skin Cancer
- 649 Stomach Cancer
- 191 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards