CEA Numbers Question

For me CEA is a strong indicator of liver mets. We only know this because we have tracked CEA levels and they correlate strongly with cancer activity in my liver. If my CEA levels go up we will do MRI to see if there are mets. If CEA is stable we will only do CT scans to monitor. My understanding is that CEA is not always a good marker in everyone. 

That being said, I agree with John. If there are known mets we will focus on a specific strategy to address the issue. Whether that be chemo or surgery or other option, the focus would be on trying to mitigate the known cancer.

On a final point my onc says that scans trump CEA. 

SilentRenegade said:

We're on the second opinion

We're on the second opinion and wished we would have gone there in the first place. They are wonderful, they actually said that the brain mets really aren't bad because of size and location. In fact, all of his doctors at this center are so positive it makes me nervous, but calm at the same time. The first place he was going to, the onc didn't want him to do radiation - just chemo, my dad begged and the guy dropped him off there and left. They also ignored a growing thyroid for TWO years - we never knew until it was completely out of control. That's the only reason he ended up at the second place - and they saved his life. First place said the neck was inoperable. Second place got it out. 

Other opinions....

We don't see it often here, but it's be great if the facilities were named, good and bad, so that others can make use of the experiences of others.

Reviews and patient's opinions of care are usually welcomed on the web, and for cancer concerns, I can't think of a better venue than the CSN forum!

Let's see if a moderator agrees?

Best of health,

John

SilentRenegade said:

We are in NJ - he was

We are in NJ - he was originally going to Southern Oncology in Vineland, and now is going to the University of Pennsylvania. You're correct, it's not often that I see the names of institutions. Surgeon on his thyroid was Dr Fraker (ridiculously good), thyroid oncologist is Dr Broce, neurologist is Dr Lucas, radiation oncologist is Dr Lukens, and the new oncologist has a really crazy name that I can't remember, but he visited my dad when we were up there on time and he had nothing but options for him. They all have options, never no options, and they always allow him to make the choice. 

Great info !!!!

And many, many thanks for sharing that info.

So many of us wish we could seek "another opinion", but have no idea where to go. If we manage to start a list here, perhaps we can help all those that need help locating other facilities and physicians of merit.

Be well, my very best wishes to you and yours!

John

SilentRenegade said:

I totally agree. There are a

I totally agree. There are a lot of options in this area... Literally every other commercial is a cancer center commercial of some type... MD Anderson, Penn, Jefferson, Cancer Centers of America, and then they partner with other hospitals as well. My mom sometimes regrets not going "over the bridge" sooner as many NJ people do. 

I don't blame mom

You never know when a Governer will shut a bridge down and make it difficult to get back, ehh?

Be well,

John