Can someone explain how the CEA numbers work?

I can only say what my Oncologist says and he wanted mine to be under 3.0 after my liver surgery. If it didn't drop below 3.0 he would have me back on the chemo. 

Now, that is my Oncologist, and we all know they differ to the extreme. 

And you know that for some people, CEA is not a good indicator. For me it seems to be, but for you, it could be different. 

When do you go and see the Oncologist again? 

Good luck!

Sue - Trubrit

I am wondering when people are saying 26 or 45 they are missing decimal point or different scale somehow?  

My CEA was 8.5 (scale 0.0-5.0) about 10 days before my surgery.  With a pretty large tumor and heavy lymph node involvement (over half of 20 that were taken).  I started dropping, last test was 3.9 for me.  Smoking of any type can boost it also.  Not sure where I saw the reference, but people on medicial marijuana can get the bump.  I am not sure how long it takes to leave from either the cancer being removed or cessation of smoking or how much triggers it.  For instance, a cigar on New Year's Eve?  How long does it boost and last?  (A bit tangential to your question, but somehing I have not seen anything about.)

Real good question.

I've been exactly 1.0 three times at various points in my journey so they stopped testing it. It doesn't seem

like it it works for me.

Easyflip/Richard

NewHere said:

I have seen the high numbers

I am wondering when people are saying 26 or 45 they are missing decimal point or different scale somehow?  

My CEA was 8.5 (scale 0.0-5.0) about 10 days before my surgery.  With a pretty large tumor and heavy lymph node involvement (over half of 20 that were taken).  I started dropping, last test was 3.9 for me.  Smoking of any type can boost it also.  Not sure where I saw the reference, but people on medicial marijuana can get the bump.  I am not sure how long it takes to leave from either the cancer being removed or cessation of smoking or how much triggers it.  For instance, a cigar on New Year's Eve?  How long does it boost and last?  (A bit tangential to your question, but somehing I have not seen anything about.)

Real good question.

 

 

The numbers can go extrodinarily high. Just take Winter Marie's numbers; over 2,000 at one point. 

My highest was 36 at diagnosis, and up to 19 when I had my liver tumour. 

Sue - Trubrit

My reading was 2.8. Everyone since then has been under 1 except when I had a peptic ulcer and it went up to 1.8. For the past ten years it has ben under0.5 or virtually undetectable. Ron.

herdizziness said:

That's why

That is why I was given the "death" sentence, they felt I had a week or two of life left.  My oncologist remains amazed.  My actual count was 2,634 if I remember rightly.  Chemo is what turned things around and then the surgeries (they said I would never have) have kept me going these past 5 years.

Winter Marie

I am so glad it all worked out.  Amazing.

Today (April 15th) I have my blood draw and my CEA checked. In fact I'm I am off out the door in 15 minutes.

Its always a little unnerving. I know I can go and pick up my results in a couple of days, but this time I may wait until my appointment on the 22nd.  - I said that last time, and ended up picking up my results and reading them. I'm terribly impatient.  I did it this time last year, and was crushed when my CEA had jumped 10 points. I knew that was bad news, and I had rather the Doctor told me. Oh well. We shall see what I do this time. -

So, CEA, here I come.

Sue - Trubrit

Helen321 said:

I saw that, thanks John.  I'm

I saw that, thanks John.  I'm two years out from the surgery and I didn't fit in this category either.  Mine went lower.  What I'm taking is I am not a good candidate for CEA having any value.  I'm just going to not worry about it at all.  I have two scans coming up in July, I'll just wait for those to be my indicator.  

Standard scans (not “pet scans”) are the way to go!

(don’t let them scare you into treatments you don’t need)

Good luck; I wish you well!!!

John23