How high can cea levels go?

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  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    edited December 2017 #62
    CEA - carcinoembryonic

    CEA - carcinoembryonic antigen, is a protein in the blood used to assess colon cancer activity. It is not always a good indicator but if it correlates with cancer activity (e.g. rises when tumors are present, reduced/stable when tumors are gone) then it is very useful for surveillance. Under 3.0 is considered normal (under 5.0 for smokers is normal). I have read about very high numbers in some people. I believe rising numbers is most concerning. If there are two consecutice rises than it’s time to do scans to see where tumors may be found.

    Likewis, decreasing numbers are considered good. That is an indicator that the cancer activity is reducing. My onc did tell me of a case where a patient had a stable CEA in 50 range. They never found cancer.

    in my case CEA proved to be a very good indicator. I have a blog with a chart of my CEA through my entire treatmen. You can find it on my blog. Link: http://pscamihorn.me 

  • faruccis
    faruccis Member Posts: 3
    #63
    Mikenh said:

    A good many of us have been

    A good many of us have been on chemo before, or are on chemo for the second time or will be on chemo for the second time soon. I'm in the latter camp. Yes, side-effects can be mild to awful. But the alternative can be a lot worse. I was actually eager to start chemo and radiation because I could feel the tumor causing more and more pain and likely causing death unless it was arrested.  Many of us already had our tumors removed and are doing mop-up chemo now - that is cleaning up stray molecules that may or may not be around. It's not a decision made lightly but it seems to me that most of us make it.

    We're mostly about colorectal cancer here and there should be a stomach cancer board (I haven't looked) where the posters there would be likely far more knowledgeable about things like staging, spread, prognoisis and treatment. BTW, my CEAs were 2.7 at diagnosis, 1.8 after three weeks of chemo and radiation and 1.7 after six weeks of chemo and radiation, and then 0.6 a month after surgical removal of the tumor. I start chemo up again on December 20 knowing full well what the side-effects are and knowing that most or all of the cancer is out of my body. The mop-up chemo is just to improve the odds should there still be some in me.

    considering chemo

    i amtold chemo may help slow progress and may not. will try at least two sessions and see if my CEA is dropping or not. I am told gastric cancer is not common. thanks for reply.

  • faruccis
    faruccis Member Posts: 3
    #64
    Trubrit said:

    The silent killer

    Cancer is called the silent killer for a good reason. By the time you 'feel' or 'see' something, its often too late.   Do NOT wait for symptoms. That is my input. 

    Tru

    thank you

    thank you

  • Beatriz_bitencourt
    Beatriz_bitencourt Member Posts: 1
    #65
    Cjosef said:

    cea 2100

    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

    Hope it helps

    Hi, I'm brazilian and I subscribed here cause I saw your comment, well, my dad was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2016 and the doctors said that he wouldn't last too much, the chemo would only give him a better quality of life, it was already all over his liver and some other places, the huge surprise is that the tumors of his liver ended up dying, he got the colostomy purse but the doctors said he would use it forever and now he was told that he will be able to get rid of this and live normally again. Don't give up, faith helps a lot, no matter what doctors say. 

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