Elevated CEA levels

Sorry that your dear mother has to go through this at such a grand age. But how wonderful that she is keeping up with her regular scans, and this was found at an early stage. 

CEA can be a tricky indicator, with so many variables. For some, CEA is a good indicator of tumour presence, for others it is all over the place, and can't be relied upon. We have one member here, Jan, with liver and lung mets, yet her CEA is 3. Others with a extreme CEA and no mets visible. 

5 is considered within range for smokers or former smokers, and in some papers, even considered acceptable for non-smokers. After my Liver surgery, my Oncologist started to feel easier once my CEA dropped to 5. 

Sit back and take a deep breath, and wait to see how her next PET/CT turn out. 

I pray for great results and that she will be able to enjoy birthdays well into her 90's. 

Sue - Trubrit

Tanya17 said:

Dear Sue,
Thank you very much

Dear Sue,

Thank you very much for your support! My mother never smoked, and it is just very unfortunate that we do not have a pre-operatve level of CEA. We already did PET-CT in September before the operation, and it was positive only at the site of the tumor in the cecum. Therefore I am so puzzled concernng her elevated level of CEA straight after the operation. I will let you know the result of the PET-CT scan as soon as it's done. Thanks again and I hope very much that you will continue to do well!!!

Tanya

Sorry Sue, mine isn't even 3. It's never been above 2 and is now .8 while I have mets in my lung. I don't know what it was previous to my surgery two years ago, though. It would be helpful if it could be relied on. I don't have any mets in my liver, just one lung.

Jan

Trubrit said:

Blame it on Chemo brain

Sorry Jan! I am obviously getting you confused with someone else.  I could say 'blame it on Chemo brain' but alas, I think its probably attributed to older age. 

But you're still a good example of CEA.  And I thought mets usually went from colon to liver to lung. I obviously still have allot to learn, thus I plan to stick around for a while. 

Signing off with a red face 

Sue - Trubrit

Don't concern yourself Sue! Apparently it's more common for it to go to the liver first but it can go like mine did. I think he said less than 20% of the time. I still think it had something to do with the blood clot in that lung, like maybe that irritated the area or something.

CEA value may or may not be indicative of cancer.  It can rise and fall based on an infection.

More importantly when it is a lower number (not in the hundreds) is the trending.  Since the last is lower than that of just post surgery, I would think that is a good sign. 

Like most other health things, the numbers we hear are "norms" not absolutes.  I would be more concerned if it was consistantly trending up or took a big jump...in this case over 10.

I know it is hard not to look at every issue, big or small, as an indicator of a cancer return, but the scans are better for most at finding a recurrance.

Wishing your mom best results.

Marie who loves kitties