Is this a good CEA #

BigMike
BigMike Member Posts: 17
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Hello all, I hope everyone is enjoying thier Thanksgiving holiday!  On friday I had my CEA checked 8 months after my bowel resection and 3 months since my ileostomy reversal.  It was 1.63.  I think the highest it was at the beginning of my chemo was 3.80 or something like that. (That was  my number during stage 4 colon cancer)  Is that commen or normal?  I feel like 3.8 seems low compared to a lot of people here.

Comments

  • neons356
    neons356 Member Posts: 57 Member
    #2
    cea

    CEA is not a good marker for some. When I was diagnosed with stage 3 my CEA was only about 2. The best use of CEA is to note any change. If yours was higher before, the lower number is a good indication.

    Carl

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #3
    3.8 is still fairly low. CEA

    3.8 is still fairly low. CEA is not a good indicator for everyone. My CEA has always been around 1 evean when there was visible cancer. The main thing to watch for is if there is a steady increase over time.

  • UncleBuddy
    UncleBuddy Member Posts: 1,019 Member
    #4
    Yay!

    I believe anytime the CEA goes down, it's a good indicator. I see many people here with different numbers. My brother's highest, I believe, was 9. It was starting to go down but then he had to stop chemo due to clots in the lungs. He has blood work in the morning and an onc visit in the pm, so we'll know whether stopping for 3 weeks has affected his numbers. Our onc told us that when the numbers go down, it's good news. But like others have said, it's NOT the BEST indicator. Scans show a lot more, but insurance isn't going to pay for people to get them done regularly. Even CT scans can sometimes miss cancer. I believe pET and MRI are more reliable. Good luck and let us know what you find out.

  • joemetz
    joemetz Member Posts: 493
    #5
    opinion

    this is ONLY my opinion... and it's only an opinion that I've put together in the past 24 months.

    I started this colon cancer battle exactly two years ago, and prior to that day CEA meant nothing to me.

     

    when i was dx'd my CEA was 65, yet the Hemaglobin was 8 and the white cell count was in the thousands.

    those three together, (to me, in my opinion) if they are wacky, it means the cancer is active, growing and possiby dancing around to try and get to other areas of our bodies.

     

    I've heard of CEA levels in the thousands for some, and only 2 or 3 points higher than "normal"... and all I know is it "should" be between 1 to 3 for a white guy and 2-5 or something like that for a black guy.  I also know that if it goes from over 3 to under 2, that's a good thing and your treatments are doing what they are intended to do.

    Congratulations on that good news!!

     

    Most likely you are one who never has a CEA higher than a dozen or so... I pray never, but for many of us it rides up and down like a roller coaster.

    mine has traveled from 65 down to 2 (during folfox, ebitux then, it traveled up during a chemo break and surgery to about 15 or 16.

    Then, we knocked it down to 4 or 5 and as of 5 weeks ago, i was at 55.

    So, tomorrow... yes tomorrow i am getting my CEA tested.... I've just finished 5 straight weeks of Irenotecan + Erbitux (every tuesday)... and I get it tested tomorrow.

     

    Praying for awesome results for Tuesday morning.

     

    but for you... i simply say Congratulations on your success. May this continue to be the direction your CEA travels if it should travel ever again.

    cheer for a great holiday filled with goodness and good news.

     

    Joe

  • BigMike
    BigMike Member Posts: 17
    #6
    joemetz said:

    opinion

    this is ONLY my opinion... and it's only an opinion that I've put together in the past 24 months.

    I started this colon cancer battle exactly two years ago, and prior to that day CEA meant nothing to me.

     

    when i was dx'd my CEA was 65, yet the Hemaglobin was 8 and the white cell count was in the thousands.

    those three together, (to me, in my opinion) if they are wacky, it means the cancer is active, growing and possiby dancing around to try and get to other areas of our bodies.

     

    I've heard of CEA levels in the thousands for some, and only 2 or 3 points higher than "normal"... and all I know is it "should" be between 1 to 3 for a white guy and 2-5 or something like that for a black guy.  I also know that if it goes from over 3 to under 2, that's a good thing and your treatments are doing what they are intended to do.

    Congratulations on that good news!!

     

    Most likely you are one who never has a CEA higher than a dozen or so... I pray never, but for many of us it rides up and down like a roller coaster.

    mine has traveled from 65 down to 2 (during folfox, ebitux then, it traveled up during a chemo break and surgery to about 15 or 16.

    Then, we knocked it down to 4 or 5 and as of 5 weeks ago, i was at 55.

    So, tomorrow... yes tomorrow i am getting my CEA tested.... I've just finished 5 straight weeks of Irenotecan + Erbitux (every tuesday)... and I get it tested tomorrow.

     

    Praying for awesome results for Tuesday morning.

     

    but for you... i simply say Congratulations on your success. May this continue to be the direction your CEA travels if it should travel ever again.

    cheer for a great holiday filled with goodness and good news.

     

    Joe

    Thanks everyone!

    Thanks for the responses everyone.  Sometimes I get a little worried so having this forum helps a ton.  Joe, good luck!  I hope you hear that good news!

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #7
    joemetz said:

    opinion

    this is ONLY my opinion... and it's only an opinion that I've put together in the past 24 months.

    I started this colon cancer battle exactly two years ago, and prior to that day CEA meant nothing to me.

     

    when i was dx'd my CEA was 65, yet the Hemaglobin was 8 and the white cell count was in the thousands.

    those three together, (to me, in my opinion) if they are wacky, it means the cancer is active, growing and possiby dancing around to try and get to other areas of our bodies.

     

    I've heard of CEA levels in the thousands for some, and only 2 or 3 points higher than "normal"... and all I know is it "should" be between 1 to 3 for a white guy and 2-5 or something like that for a black guy.  I also know that if it goes from over 3 to under 2, that's a good thing and your treatments are doing what they are intended to do.

    Congratulations on that good news!!

     

    Most likely you are one who never has a CEA higher than a dozen or so... I pray never, but for many of us it rides up and down like a roller coaster.

    mine has traveled from 65 down to 2 (during folfox, ebitux then, it traveled up during a chemo break and surgery to about 15 or 16.

    Then, we knocked it down to 4 or 5 and as of 5 weeks ago, i was at 55.

    So, tomorrow... yes tomorrow i am getting my CEA tested.... I've just finished 5 straight weeks of Irenotecan + Erbitux (every tuesday)... and I get it tested tomorrow.

     

    Praying for awesome results for Tuesday morning.

     

    but for you... i simply say Congratulations on your success. May this continue to be the direction your CEA travels if it should travel ever again.

    cheer for a great holiday filled with goodness and good news.

     

    Joe

    Joe I commend you for five

    Joe I commend you for five straight weeks of irrinotecan and erbitux. That is brutal. I am praying your cea is good.

  • Dumbfounded
    Dumbfounded Member Posts: 25
    #8
    CEA levels

    My CEA level is currently at 3.8!  I was told by my Onc. that this is within normal limits.  I did some research on the internet and found that anything under 5 is within Normal Limits. I'm not sure if this helps you any as to I am still learning about all of this myself. Between this site, my Oncologist, and the internet, I am slowly getting to know some things.

     

    D

  • UncleBuddy
    UncleBuddy Member Posts: 1,019 Member
    #9
    joemetz said:

    opinion

    this is ONLY my opinion... and it's only an opinion that I've put together in the past 24 months.

    I started this colon cancer battle exactly two years ago, and prior to that day CEA meant nothing to me.

     

    when i was dx'd my CEA was 65, yet the Hemaglobin was 8 and the white cell count was in the thousands.

    those three together, (to me, in my opinion) if they are wacky, it means the cancer is active, growing and possiby dancing around to try and get to other areas of our bodies.

     

    I've heard of CEA levels in the thousands for some, and only 2 or 3 points higher than "normal"... and all I know is it "should" be between 1 to 3 for a white guy and 2-5 or something like that for a black guy.  I also know that if it goes from over 3 to under 2, that's a good thing and your treatments are doing what they are intended to do.

    Congratulations on that good news!!

     

    Most likely you are one who never has a CEA higher than a dozen or so... I pray never, but for many of us it rides up and down like a roller coaster.

    mine has traveled from 65 down to 2 (during folfox, ebitux then, it traveled up during a chemo break and surgery to about 15 or 16.

    Then, we knocked it down to 4 or 5 and as of 5 weeks ago, i was at 55.

    So, tomorrow... yes tomorrow i am getting my CEA tested.... I've just finished 5 straight weeks of Irenotecan + Erbitux (every tuesday)... and I get it tested tomorrow.

     

    Praying for awesome results for Tuesday morning.

     

    but for you... i simply say Congratulations on your success. May this continue to be the direction your CEA travels if it should travel ever again.

    cheer for a great holiday filled with goodness and good news.

     

    Joe

    How did your CEA results go, Joe?

    Joe, are you on erbitux and ironotecan or is the ironotecan part of the flofiri cocktail? I'm still learning here, so don't mind me. My brother was on the erbitux and folfiri until he got sick. 

    Big Mike & Joe, I hope both your CEA levels keep going down and the cancer leaves PERMANENTLY!!!That's my wish for everyone on this site. :)

    Lin

  • joemetz
    joemetz Member Posts: 493
    #10
    UncleBuddy said:

    How did your CEA results go, Joe?

    Joe, are you on erbitux and ironotecan or is the ironotecan part of the flofiri cocktail? I'm still learning here, so don't mind me. My brother was on the erbitux and folfiri until he got sick. 

    Big Mike & Joe, I hope both your CEA levels keep going down and the cancer leaves PERMANENTLY!!!That's my wish for everyone on this site. :)

    Lin

    Thanks Everyone!

    Thanks for the postive words from everyone. I hate it that i feel like a "veteran" at this crap. 

    first the good news... after 5 weeks of Erbitux and Irenotecan my CEA has gone from 55 down to 25.2!!!!    to me this is AWESOME news.

     

    I was on the full Folfuiri + Avastin for six months and during those six months my CEA began to travel from 3 on up to 55.  

    i did the five weeks of just Irenotecan + Erbitux. (not the full Folfuri cocktail).  

     

    Two years ago my first round of chemo was Folfox + Erbitux (did that from Jan 3, 2012 to July 4, 2012).  

    i have an aweful rash, but i just avoid mirrors. hahahaha.

     

  • rls67
    rls67 Member Posts: 127
    #11
    my wifes CEA was 385 when she

    my wifes CEA was 385 when she was diagnosed in 10/12. It went down to 95 on 4/13. I have no idea what it is now since her onc. doesnt believe it is a reliable source of information. I have seen people who's CEA was over 10,000. Not really sold on it being a good indicator. I guess the best indicator is the scans every 2-3 months.

  • tanstaafl
    tanstaafl Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #12
    tracking

    The most diagnostic CEA values are at diagnosis, presurgery, post surgery and the month to month trends.  This is more useful than just single CEA comparisons.     Ditto CA19-9, although less commonly used by drs in the US, it is useful for us, as more often in advanced CRC.  Inflammation appears to create noise.  Because we use oral chemo with lots of alternative anti inflammatories and IV vit C, my wife's CEA trends exhibit very little noise and this helps with faster tracking of CEA events in real time.  

    Although biomarkers have numerous limitations and caveats, I think that *more* biomarkers, more frequently could help many patients,  if they can handle the uncertainties and see extra opportunity sooner with any set backs rather than just as bad news.      

  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #13
    neons356 said:

    cea

    CEA is not a good marker for some. When I was diagnosed with stage 3 my CEA was only about 2. The best use of CEA is to note any change. If yours was higher before, the lower number is a good indication.

    Carl

    I was at #150 before liver

    I was at #150 before liver resction in 2009.  Went to

    #2 lowest for a little over 4 years.  Now it's #480 and mets aren't as big. Not sure what that means. 

     

    Under 5 is supposed to be good if a good indicator. 

  • Hooley
    Hooley Member Posts: 156
    #14
    joemetz said:

    Thanks Everyone!

    Thanks for the postive words from everyone. I hate it that i feel like a "veteran" at this crap. 

    first the good news... after 5 weeks of Erbitux and Irenotecan my CEA has gone from 55 down to 25.2!!!!    to me this is AWESOME news.

     

    I was on the full Folfuiri + Avastin for six months and during those six months my CEA began to travel from 3 on up to 55.  

    i did the five weeks of just Irenotecan + Erbitux. (not the full Folfuri cocktail).  

     

    Two years ago my first round of chemo was Folfox + Erbitux (did that from Jan 3, 2012 to July 4, 2012).  

    i have an aweful rash, but i just avoid mirrors. hahahaha.

     

    Message

    congrats Joe. Keep on keeping on!   Can I ask ....having had erbitux have you ever had the treatment for awhile, then scanned, found tumors growing, and yet stayed on erbitux.   My Onc not scan cos he said if growing I can't go back on erbitux.   Take care

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