elevated cea

krystiesq
krystiesq Member Posts: 240 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My mom's onc suggested to redo her cea level. She is on treatment 3 of her second round. First 12 were 5fu+avastin+oxiliplatin. After 12 her cea went from 189 to 8.1. The last few cea tests have fluctuated between 8-11. This last cea was 11 something and my mom is scared. Her onc ordered another cea and said that he might add campostar to her chemotherapy. Have any of you rec'd campostar? Can you tell me the side effects?

Comments

  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    #2
    Elevated CEA- Campostar
    Hi,

    Has the onc done any other tests besides the CEA? A scan maybe? The chemo and other things might be making the CEA fluctuate. Campostar I believe is something like Oxiplatin but doesn't have the same neuropathy issues. My first onc (yes I found another better one) was going to give it to me until I protested because it is put in sugar water and I'm diabetic. I'm glad I did find another one since the oxiplatin did the same thing without the 'sugar water'. HUGS and I'm sure more people will chime in.

    Lisa F.
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #3
    Camptosar vs. Oxaliplatin
    I have had both. Oxaliplatin the first time around, Camptosar (CPT-11) the second and third times around. My body tolerates CPT-11 much better than Oxaliplatin. Oxaliplatin is a newer drug and is believed to be the top one in our current fight. It's a heavy metal, which is why you get the metallic taste issues and the neuropathy. There are so many people doing well on both, so definitely talk with your mother's doctor about your concerns. I didn't get as much chemobrain with the FOLFIRI (the one with CPT-11 instead of Oxaliplatin) and was generally able to function much better. Of course, could be that the first time around I was sure the cancer was all gone after the surgery and just thought the chemo was unnecessary poisoning. After the recurrence, i was much more appreciative of the power behind the chemotherapy and saw it more as a fighting tool rather than poison. I was quick to ask for drugs to counteract side effects as well! Your mother is blessed to have you with her in this fight; remember to take time to strengthen and rejuvenate yourself as well. God be with you. Mary
  • apache4
    apache4 Member Posts: 272 Member
    #4
    msccolon said:

    Camptosar vs. Oxaliplatin
    I have had both. Oxaliplatin the first time around, Camptosar (CPT-11) the second and third times around. My body tolerates CPT-11 much better than Oxaliplatin. Oxaliplatin is a newer drug and is believed to be the top one in our current fight. It's a heavy metal, which is why you get the metallic taste issues and the neuropathy. There are so many people doing well on both, so definitely talk with your mother's doctor about your concerns. I didn't get as much chemobrain with the FOLFIRI (the one with CPT-11 instead of Oxaliplatin) and was generally able to function much better. Of course, could be that the first time around I was sure the cancer was all gone after the surgery and just thought the chemo was unnecessary poisoning. After the recurrence, i was much more appreciative of the power behind the chemotherapy and saw it more as a fighting tool rather than poison. I was quick to ask for drugs to counteract side effects as well! Your mother is blessed to have you with her in this fight; remember to take time to strengthen and rejuvenate yourself as well. God be with you. Mary

    Thanks for info
    When I was getting the CPT-11 with Erbitux, I was convinced that it was making the neuropathy, that I had from earlier rounds of Oxy, worse. So, with this info from you, I guess I was right. I have always been afraid to ask for drugs for side effects as I figure that my poor liver can only handle so much. The onc didn't say anything different. Maybe, I have been wrong on that one although my side effects from Folfox and Folfiri were nothing compared to the CPT-11 and Erbitux. Thanks for including this info in your post.
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #5
    Change in CEA
    I don't know if this applies to your Mom - but my CEA (it is in a post from last week) went up to 4.5 in had been around 2.2-3.5 which Mass General consider to be in the don't worry about range. When it went up - I am currently 1+ years ned they redid it and then did a CT scan. The scan showed nothing, so they are having me come back in 2 months to try again. I drop from 189 to 8.1 or 11 seems pretty dramatic. I know CEA is problematic in some people, have they done another CT?
  • krystiesq
    krystiesq Member Posts: 240 Member
    #6
    pamness said:

    Change in CEA
    I don't know if this applies to your Mom - but my CEA (it is in a post from last week) went up to 4.5 in had been around 2.2-3.5 which Mass General consider to be in the don't worry about range. When it went up - I am currently 1+ years ned they redid it and then did a CT scan. The scan showed nothing, so they are having me come back in 2 months to try again. I drop from 189 to 8.1 or 11 seems pretty dramatic. I know CEA is problematic in some people, have they done another CT?

    No CT, just suggestion to
    No CT, just suggestion to add campostar. maybe I should suggest Ct. After oxy was stopped cea hit plateau and lowest was 8.1 now 11.1. The doctor said he just wanted to repeat the test because an average is necessary given the reliability of the cea.

    Also, the onc forgot her avastin last treatment...curious for follow up cea.

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