First Time Posting and CEA Markers

As you can see I joined this family awhile ago. In February of 2010 my dad was first diagnosed with Stage IVB esophageal cancer, mets to the liver and other areas, but this is my first post. I keep up to date with everyone on here and even though you haven't known it I have been keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks to William Marshall, Sherri, and many others I have gotten a plethora of helpful information. I sometimes have to laugh and am shocked other times at the candidness of the posts. And yes, I do cry a lot too! God bless all of you!

I look forward to sharing our "roller coaster ride" with everyone. Some of our experiences sound similar to the ones shared here, some seem a little different and we have had at least one experience that has not been mentioned here at all and is relatively new to the market.

Our family is about 16 months into this "roller coaster ride" and my anxiety level is growing. I read one of Mr. Marshall's posts awhile back and he said "maybe they are not telling you the whole story" and that has stuck with me. I think my mom and dad tell me what they want me to hear. Mr. Marshall, you have 8 years experience here on the site and you have seen many come and go and I think your wealth of personal knowledge is worth more than many of the statistics/stories I see out there. If I read you correct and please correct me if I am wrong (and I would like to be wrong) it seems here on this site 24 months survival for a Stage IVB is about average. Is that correct?

I think you know where I am going, so here is my question. Not a lot is said on this site about CEA Markers. Since my dad started chemo treatment every time he has a blood draw, which has been about three times a month, he gets his CEA Marker. He started around 45, it went down to 3 and now is up over 600. So, I would like to know what the CEA Markers are for other family members here are. I cannot find anywhere (anything believable anyway) how high this number can go. Could someone please shed some light for me or at least your own experiences?

My mom says don't pay too much attention to the number as it doesn't always correlate to what is going on, Pet/Ct scans are the best. And yes, one time this was true but ever since as the CEA number goes up, the pet/ct scans get worse.

I cannot post often right now but I will in time, and thank you in advance for all of your feedback!