Just found out that my husband's CEA was 2100 prior to surgery for a colostomy. He has colorectal cancer with liver metasases, covering about 70% of his liver. He is an otherwise healthy, active, non-smoker, non-drinker 39 yr old. The original tumor in his colon was causing him a blockage and so he was unable to eat. Starting losing weight and went to dr, got blood work, showed anemia, went to gastro for colonoscopy and they couldn't even complete it because of the blockage. So they did a ct scan and told us 3 days later that he has cancer, mets to his liver and is incurable. We are shocked and don't want to give up. Any survivors out there who can share their story or give us some advice. he has first appt with oncologist on Monday and 2nd opionion on tuesday. This all started last week. Thanks! Any help is appreciated!

S and C

When my mom was first diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, complete with metastases in her lungs and liver, her CEA was 2,629. Within two months of chemo and radiation, it had dropped to 192.3. The lowest it ever got to was 31.2, but she's been jumping around on different chemo options for the past several months and her CEA has been rising and falling accordingly. This month it was at 409.8, the highest it's been since her diagnosis. CEA levels can provide some important insights, but honestly, I would say don't put TOO much emphasis on it. More important is how you're physically feeling, any new areas of pain or weakness, and what the scans show. Watching my mom's CEA levels for me has been like a die-hard sports fan watching the stats on his/her favorite team during a crazy season, and I know that's putting too much emotional reliance on a number that is but one indicator. My mom was diagnosed 20 months ago, and she has her good and bad days, but for the most part is doing extraordinarily well right now given how she was when she started (::knocks on wood::). One can only hope that a good trend lasts for a long time. 

Akroger said:

CEA rollercoaster

When my mom was first diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, complete with metastases in her lungs and liver, her CEA was 2,629. Within two months of chemo and radiation, it had dropped to 192.3. The lowest it ever got to was 31.2, but she's been jumping around on different chemo options for the past several months and her CEA has been rising and falling accordingly. This month it was at 409.8, the highest it's been since her diagnosis. CEA levels can provide some important insights, but honestly, I would say don't put TOO much emphasis on it. More important is how you're physically feeling, any new areas of pain or weakness, and what the scans show. Watching my mom's CEA levels for me has been like a die-hard sports fan watching the stats on his/her favorite team during a crazy season, and I know that's putting too much emotional reliance on a number that is but one indicator. My mom was diagnosed 20 months ago, and she has her good and bad days, but for the most part is doing extraordinarily well right now given how she was when she started (::knocks on wood::). One can only hope that a good trend lasts for a long time. 

Stanford told me that not all measure the same so my CEA level number could be different with them,  then with my cancer center/oncologist. 

ittapp said:

Welcome Tina
Hi Tina, I am pretty new myself, I also am stage 4 with liver mets, I did have my colon resection on the 14 of May. I also have some in my stomach and in 7 lymphnodes. I hope that the number coming down is a good thing for both of us! Welcome to this site, the people are amazing and I get so much encouragment from the wonderful people on here. You should throw yourself in and ask anything, and I mean anything goes on here. I have had 3 Chemo treatments so far, just had my bag off today. What is your treatment? I am on Folfox with Avastan and the 46 hr. pump of 5fu. Write anytime I am always lurking myself! Patti

Hi - I live in the Kansas City, Mo area and also have stage 4 colon cancer with liver mets.  I am also on the Folfox with Avastan treatment plan.  Prior to this, I was on Folfiri with the Certuximab target drug, which worked for about 10 or 11 months.  I will have a scan in about a month to see if this is working.  My CEA is at 53.6.  

Have you heard of the TheraSphere treament option for the liver mets?  I am now in the process of exploring it since I am not currently a canidate for a liver resection.

Take Care,

Ron G.

beaumontdave said:

No two is likely very good,

No two is likely very good, mine has been up to the forties, never low until after the second liver surgery, now it's 2.0, if it jumps beyond 4, I guess I'll start to worry. All of that is to say, CEA has been reliable for me, doesn't indicate other's results...................................................Dave

Yeah, I didn't look at the dates, like I'm talking to the past. Start a new blog, please, these old one's hurt.

There are several different CEA scales doctors use today.  Two of the usual ones are .. (1) "ng / mL" and (2) "ug / DL".   To convert, 1ng / mL = 10 ug / DL.  And it looks like many times labs are reporting lower case "d" instead of uppercase "D" (which adds to the confusion.. in terms of SI prefixes, dL= 0.1L  while  DL = 10L... that's an important difference.. 100x to us scientists).

         example:   22.4 ng/mL = 224 ug/DL

I suspect that the others here who are posting values of 264 and 333 are on that ug/DL scale.  And those posting values of 9 and 7 and 3.4 are on that ng/mL scale.  Apples to apples would be 26.4 vs 9 vs 7 vs 3.4.  The folks posting 2,629 and 6,000 might be on a different scale entirely.  Same as those posting "2" (there is another scale (0 to 5) scale some doctors use).   Make SURE you know what the units are on your test results! Otherwise the numbers are meaningless.

Anyway, the typical CEA range is < 3.0 ng/mL   (that is < 30mg/DL).  Some folks are naturally higher.  Others are in that range.  Sometimes certain cancers will elevate a patients CEA levels, othertimes or with other cancers, CEA will be normal.  Sometimes other things elevate CEA. 

Typically, from what I've read, heard, and studied, most doctors would say CEA < 10ng/mL (< 100ug/DL) could be normal or caused by things like smoking, not really a cause for alarm, but screening might be in order to determine the cause.  And again from what I've been hearing, CEA > 15ng/mL (>150ug/DL) typically means cancer might be spreading throughout your body.  More important than the absolute numbers is the TREND.  If you've been diagnosed with cancer and your CEA levels are low, but increasing, that might be a sign your particular chemo might not be working.  If your on chemo and the CEA is dropping, probably a good sign.  If CEA is remaining constant, maybe your particular cancer isn't one of those that elevate CEA.

Amyruparel said:

What units of measurement was used?

There are many forms of measurement was your form in the terms of ng/ml ?

It goes one step beyond just units of measurement being brought up a couple of times in this thread.  There are actually two different testing methodologies for CEA which most people are unaware of.  The one most people have been used to over the years is the Siemens/Bayer test method.  The other is the Roche method.  The Roche method has a wider band of what is considered "normal".  It's important you understand what testing method your lab uses and to have consistent measurements for the basis of comparison for trending.  If you shift labs, expect to have at least 2 CEA tests done to establish the new basis for comparison.  I shifted oncologists and the new one uses Lab Corp for his testing.  They use the Roche method.  My previous encologist was affiliated with the local hospital and the labs were done there.  The local hospital had used the Siemens Bayer and shifted to the Roche method as evidenced by the spike in the CEA number I had from being in the 3.x range to 4.7.  The number came with a foot note stating the change in testing method and the new scale for what is considered normal.

My last CEA with the new oncologist and Lab Corp came back at 5.6.  I was shocked at that number and wondered if it was just lab variability.  My oncologist felt that was certainly the case and felt comfortable there was nothing going on; especially since my CT scan showed nothing.  That was 6 months ago.  I'm currently waiting for my CEA number to come back from the lab.  Another scan was also done and again showing nothing.  It'll be interesting to see what the CEA number is this time.

PamPam2 said:

cea
Hi Patti
I am out of treatment now. Was stage 4, tumor grew out of colon, into overy and lymph nodes. Keeping an eye on lesion on liver, it is not showing any activity or growth at this time. It is a good sign that yours is getting lower, the chemo must be slowing down/killing the cancer cells. From what I understand, the cancer enzyme activity level is the enzymes that growing and active cancer cells secrete, so it sounds like yours is slowing down or dying off. It sounds like the chemo is doing it's job for you. Hope your levels continue to drop, and the liver tumors die off or shrink enough for other treatments to get rid of them. I am nearing my 5 year mark from when this all started, and am very thankful to be here. It has been quite a journey, and I am still closely monitored, but I think it has all been worth it. I will be glad to offer anything I have learned. Best Hopes for you and your family.
Pam

never know how successful tx is

are you still alive?

Takemeom said:

are you alive

never know how successful tx is

are you still alive?

There are too many faces on this thread, who have passed away. It is heartbreaking!

SUE

Right straight to it.

Started with CEA at 388. Colon cancer was 5 inches in diameter. Liver was 3/4 cancer, 21 mets plus, sizes from 2.5 to 0.75 of an inch in diameter, all segments in the liver were infected. So stage 4b or 4II , which ever your country is. So its 8 months min, 13 to 14 average and an absolute max of 20months.

So no liver resection, SIRT, lazer knife or any other treatment available to me as I just have too many secondary mets in my liver. Just Cetuximab and 5FU with an initial 17 cycles of Oxalyplatin thrown in.  So every two weeks, now on cycle 62, I have chemo/bio therapy treatment. The liver mets disappeared, all of them, after 2 years. The colon primary was half the size of a grain of rice after 6 months. CT and MRI scans can find NOTHING after 3 scans. MRI scan with radio active sugar can find nothing. Less sensitive CAT scan can find nothing.

World renown oncologist ( Harley st, London and UCL), senior oncologist ( Oxford University Hospital )and junior oncologist at local hospital do not know what to do next. Very few people have my sort of response. Now on 5 years of chemo/bio.

In conclusion. ALWAYS ADOPT A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE. Have a reason to live. Mine is a glorious 3 year old grandchild. Who can seriously be a pain in the ****! But I love her. Take the dammed chemo. Research options. Immunology is advancing so fast. 

Basically have hope. Have hope that something is just around the corner, just to be announced next week.

All the best.

Adrian