my CEA

lisa42 · April 2011

Hi,

Well, I had hoped to be posting that the CEA went down, but it didn't. It was last checked 5 wks ago (the week of my scan) and it was 239 then. I just had it drawn right before chemo on Tuesday & when I went to get my 5FU pump unhooked and get my neulasta shot, I found out that it has gone up to 295 in the 5 weeks- so that's up 56 points in 5 weeks.
It has been an up down up down pattern lately & even though 239 last time is still high, that was actually slightly down from where it had been the previous time. So since last time it was down, I was worried it'd continue the pattern and be up this time & it was. Maybe if the pattern continues, it will be down again next time.
But not enough! I need it to start going down down down!

I honestly don't know what else I can possibly do. I've been doing the cleanses, altered my diet, have been taking numerous supplements. When I started all this 3 months ago, that was when my CEA really dropped & I was thrilled, but it didn't last.
My red blood cell count was awesome this last week & I attribute the diet and supplements to that- I just wish it would start knocking those damn cancer cells!

One of the next steps my naturopathic dr wanted me to do, which I have not yet done, is do some intensive sauna detox treatment- like 5 days/week for off and on the full day- he found my system to have pesticides and heavy metals & he told me then that I need to get these toxins out of me (supposedly, according to him, nickel is a known cancer causing agent & I had a high amount of nickel in me). Well, maybe that will be my next step.

We shall see... I'm going to meet w/ the ND next week and I'll discuss it w/ him.

Well, moving on- I've got someone coming to look at our last shih tzu puppy for sale in about a 1/2 hr, so gotta go get the puppy pen all ready and clean.

Hugs everyone,
Lisa

pepebcn · April 2011

Feel so sorry for the news Lisa !
Hope next time it drops , what an stressing game!.
Hugs and I will pray for that!

jjaj133 · April 2011

Lisa, I am so sorry, what a
Lisa, I am so sorry, what a rollercoaster ride. We will keep the prayers coming, hugs to you. I wish I had magic words, heck, I wish I had a magic wand.
Judy

damama24 · April 2011

pepebcn said:
Feel so sorry for the news Lisa !
Hope next time it drops , what an stressing game!.
Hugs and I will pray for that!

CEA
I understand your frustration Lisa. My CEA has been steadily going up since last Dec. On Dec 1st. Of last year it had dropped to 23.7 the lowest it had been since diagnosis. Needless to say I was very encouraged and hopeful. Then 4 weeks later it had jumped to 85 then 136 and at last check 238. Had scan after second jump and it was mixed results, the tumors in liver were mostly stable but the pelvic mass seems to be causing the rise. Have another scan scheduled for end of month and will discuss results and options with onc.
She wants to talk about chemo directly to liver in the hopes of shrinking tumors for resection and getting rid of pelvic mass. I don't want to get my hopes up to much.
I hope you get some answers for your rise in CEA and that all the things you are trying kick in big time and give you the results you want and deserve.

Deb

Lori-S · April 2011

Lisa
Sorry about the rise in your CEA.

idlehunters · April 2011

Hey Lisa....
Dang Lisa..... I was so hoping you would see that CEA go down some more too! I think you are right staying on course with ND...... It has helped in some areas and it sure can't hurt. I am going to change ND.....especially hearing how other ND's...like yours...do this and do that..... mine don't seem as motivated. I just don't know what else to say about that stupid CEA.... I can relate but on a much smaller scale..... I feel silly even complaining when I see what you are going thru. It just sucks! You take care my friend.

I seen your puppies on FB...sooooooo cute!!!!

Jennie

Lovekitties · April 2011

Sorry
Sorry that even with all your hard work the CEA is on the rise.

Hoping that the ND will have some other things to try.

Hugs,

Marie who loves kitties

plh4gail · April 2011

Darn it Lisa...I'm sorry
Darn it Lisa...I'm sorry about the CEA. I hope the sauna detox will give you a decrease in it. I'll be watching for the update and hopeful for the number drop.

Love and hugs to you buddy, Gail

AnneCan · April 2011

Sorry Lisa
I hope the next CEA test shows decreased numbers.

Unknown · April 2011

AnneCan said:
Sorry Lisa
I hope the next CEA test shows decreased numbers.

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

Buzzard · April 2011

AnneCan said:
Sorry Lisa
I hope the next CEA test shows decreased numbers.

My prayers to you for all good things........
Honestly, I don't see how you....well, yes, I do see...I know who you are and who you put all faith in....bless you Lisa.....Love and Hope, Clift

tina dasilva · April 2011

Sorry
Lisa I'm so sorry to hear about you CEA count I will pray that it will go down hugs Tina

Annabelle41415 · April 2011

Tests
I'm hoping that there isn't more going on than you know about the CEA. You have done so much and just hope they can figure out why the rise. You have given every option to doing what you think is right with regards to changing a life style. Maybe it just will take more time. Good luck with your upcoming appointment next week. You are in my thoughts and prayer.

Kim

tanstaafl · April 2011

CEA busters
Sorry for the disappointing news. It's amazing what even one or two bad actors can do to that CEA level.

We are much less further along the metastasis trail. However, our plan is to prevent new metastases with nutritional and targetable inhibitors, and to directly attack the individual masses whenever possible. Some recent 2009-11 literature shows substantial survival benefit attacking large/hot nodes in metastatic cancer patients, at least for surgery, cyberknife, image guided chemical ablation (liver cancer example ).

One surgical interview last week indicated that surgery was not used more in my wife's type case (PALN) because of a "simple" lack of effective antimetastatic tx and misc small worries. The surgeons, as many doctors, had not heard of several non-/low toxicity angiogenic inhibitors, including molecularly targeted (CA19-9, CSLEX1) cimetidine. Unlike many doctors, one is interested enough to consider them long term; now, if we already initiated them.

I assume that cimetidine is likely an active antimetastatic agent for my wife, given the CA19-9 level, previous response, and lack of spread this year with a big node. With the discovery of that unresected node and rising CEA, we've gone back up to 1600 mg cimeditine since there is some preclinical literature suggesting dose dependence, as well as trial experience with 1600 mg. We've increased vitamin D3 (calcium controlled/limited) dosage, restored high dose vitamin K2 (without extra calcium), and more frequent IV vitamin C (hopefully for histamine/VEGF levels, seedlings and encapsulation, not direct cidal action).

One thing that I have discovered literature for in tegafur, a foreign 5FU prodrug, missing in the other 5FU formulas is a cheap, active HIF-1 inhibitor, that reduces VEGF which creates supply blood vessels. HIF1 and VEGF are frequently overexpressed in metastatic colorectal cancer. I know some people use high dose melantonin or low dose naltrexeone, which also claim some HIF-1 inhibition action. Again, against spread in general, and perhaps during invasive procedures, perhaps not so much against established masses.

We are still looking for more information on high dose vitamin D3 and K2(MK-4) that I mentioned previously, as part of the general antimet plan.

I have to say, my experience these last two weeks, leaves me feeling that more effective means of treating individual masses are possible, just not in US practice. I'm looking across borders, too, in emerging economies. US based medicine can get too bogged down in conflicts of interest, artificial standards, and political tarpits to notice cheap answers progressing elsewhere.

I've had to peel eyes open to even get surgeons' attention, for emphatic surgical recommendations by other doctors. Lessons for me, keep looking under every stone, and that insistence may be necessary to get the inconvenient best.

luvmum · April 2011

Dear Lisa
I'm really sorry to hear that the CEA went up instead of went down. I prayed for you last night and will continue to pray for you! I hope it's just not stable recently and it will start going down from next time!!!!!

Are there any plans lining up for you from the oncologist? What did he/she say about it?

You are always in my prayer!
Love and hugs
Dora

Nana b · April 2011

luvmum said:
Dear Lisa
I'm really sorry to hear that the CEA went up instead of went down. I prayed for you last night and will continue to pray for you! I hope it's just not stable recently and it will start going down from next time!!!!!

Are there any plans lining up for you from the oncologist? What did he/she say about it?

You are always in my prayer!
Love and hugs
Dora

Sorry to hear this Lisa. I
Sorry to hear this Lisa. I know you have a lot of stress in you life, so you really need to work with that, are you on any medication to help you. I know you will still go through the stress but it will help you handle it with less emotion. Are you going on parabiotics and mastica for the bugs. That's what I'm on. I need to call on my CEA today. I know that a scan can be clear and you still have cancer cells in your body.

Hang in there. Keep up the tumeric, drink that green tea, vtiamin D3, and all that you are doing.

The next time the spiritual healer is here, I am going to give you a call, because dang it, we have to try everything. He worked with me and this other lady with cancer and she is now cancer free. Coincidence or not, I am still believing!

sasjourney · April 2011

What?????
Dear Lisa,

I can't understand why your CEA went up with all the things you are doing. My guess is that it just takes longer for the changes to start making a difference. Keep up with what you are doing and continue to try new options such as the sauna detox. Have you been juicing? I will send you a PM later today.

I always pray for you Lisa. Stay strong and you will beat this thing.

Hugs,
Sara

kuastoi · April 2011

In the same boat..
Mine kept climbing despite the usual treatments - now I am on a clinical trial, so we'll see.
I know you have been on a modified treatment plan through Dr Lenz, have you re-addressed a clinical trial? We're pulling for you.

Tom

lisa42 · April 2011

Thanks everyone
Thanks everyone for the comments and support. It will take a couple of days for me to mull it over. I just want to enjoy the Easter weekend, then Monday I'm doing more research. I see the naturopathic dr Tuesday and the onc on Wednesday. We'll see what they have to say- my onc usually never has any new ideas, though- just goes along with what I want to do.

Take care everyone- thanks for the prayers too

Hugs,
Lisa

angelsbaby · April 2011

lisa42 said:
Thanks everyone
Thanks everyone for the comments and support. It will take a couple of days for me to mull it over. I just want to enjoy the Easter weekend, then Monday I'm doing more research. I see the naturopathic dr Tuesday and the onc on Wednesday. We'll see what they have to say- my onc usually never has any new ideas, though- just goes along with what I want to do.

Take care everyone- thanks for the prayers too

Hugs,
Lisa

Lisa
I am thinking about you and wishing i could give u a hug

michelle

Crow71 · April 2011

Hey Lisa
I'm sorry to hear this. I think your cancer is getting meaner all the time.

Sometimes it takes a while for the benefits of alternative treatments to really kick in. I know you know this, but I wanted to say it anyway to make sure you keep up the hope. I definitely haven't lost any hope for you. This is an unpleasant bump in the road, but like you said, your cea has been a roller coaster lately. Hopefully it'll be down next time. (I may have said all of that to you few weeks ago, but I still feel the same way.)

The sauna treatment sounds intensive indeed. That's a big chunk of time. You had brought that to my attention a while ago, but I didn't pursue it. I think I'll look into it more; so let me know what you learn.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you are a person who absolutely loves Easter. Am I right? Either way I hope that you have a great weekend and that the holiday brings you lots of peace.

Loads of pastel colored sparks to you my friend.

Roger

my CEA

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