CEA--Help me understand
We go in tomorrow morning for a CEA retest.
I'm in panic mode.
Can anyone tell me what this means and whether this is a terrible development?
My husband was diagnosed in May 2006 with stage 3 colon cancer. Subsequent events led to a state 4 diagnosis and he has had three surgeries and chemotherapy. His most recent surgery was in September 2008 for a tumor in his abdominal wall. Everything else looked very good from the standpoint of the surgeon's analysis in October 2007 when he had a major surgery and from CT and PET scans. The most recent CT scan was September 2008.
I need information and reassurance.
Hatshepsut
Comments
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Tests
I can only say that I think CEAs are baselines to go by and if they start to elevate that there is something going on but it could be a false reading or something minute' ..CEAs are the first line of defense against anything happening and during the 5 year period we are checked often to assure that if something does start happening the CEA elevation will catch and show it before it ever gets started. It could be nothing,CT scans aren't near as good at showing activity as a PET scan but even then the PET scan doesn't usually show anything smaller than a centimeter. But, the CEA picks it up and thats the good part if there is a good part , it is found way earlier than it normally would be and is easier treated if in fact it is cancer...hopefully its a bad reading... I'll talk with the Lord about it in a few minutes and you'll be in good hands.....Good Luck and God Bless you both0 -
I am in the same boat as your husband, however...
CEA results are a really good indicator for some people and not so good for others. Many people without cancer have elevated CEA's and many people with cancer have very low CEA's.
My CEA was 4.7 at diagnoses (January 2007) stage 3A. It went from 4.7 to 2.3 and bounced around during chemo, etc. I have been ned since September 2007. Four months ago my CEA went up to 4.2 (from 3.0) at Mass General anything below 3.5 is considered OK. I have since been retested twic and scanned once. Scan was clean. My CEA is still 4.2 (4 months now), I have another scan Monday. I am symptom free. My oncologist is not particularly concerned. (It is driving me nuts), but, for me, since I have a very narrow band on my CEA, it is considered "clinically insignificant." I am being monitored every two months - but after my next scan if nothing shows up, I will be considered to be still ned - and CEA will not be my best indicator.
Please remember that CEA is a really great indicator for many people and not so good for others.
CT and PET scans are still considered the "gold standard."
I send you all my prayers and best wishes, but CEA is effected by many outside variables and varies from person to person.
Pam0 -
I don't understand either
I have a narrow band of CEA (1-14)also. Since the second recurrence surgery in April this year,it was 1.0 - 1.8 - 2.3 - 2.5 - 2.9 - 3.4 while I was taking Exloda, But the latest blood test result (last week) was 1.8 that dropped almost 50% from my Sept.'s result (3.4)! It's almost too good to be true and I just couldn't believe it. (Since my CEA had been move upward for the last three months).
I was wondering if someone had similar experience could help me to understand this. (could one's CEA moves downward even without any treatment?)
Thanks in advance! Wish the best for all of you!
Faungg0 -
CEA
No need to panic. As others have mentioned here... CEA is used as a monitoring tool and it works as a great tool on some people and not so great on others. There is nothing 100% accurate about CEA but it could be an "indicator" for the docs to do some more testing. Some people have very low CEA readings even though they have active cancer... others have extremely high readings (I've read where some people have readings into the 100s). So what is a good reading for one person may mean something totally different for another... it all depends on what your husband's average reading is during chemo, after and when the cancer was active vs when it's not.
IE: When I finished my chemo a year ago, my reading was 2.4. At our Agency, anything below 4.0 is considered normal and not to get too excited about. Last December, my reading was 6.7... considered slightly elevated. By Feb it was 18... so definitely showing that it was on the rise... so that's when a PET scan was ordered and sure enough the PET scan lit up with my right adrenal gland. By the time I had the surgery to remove the gland, my CEA was a 30. A month after the surgery, it plummeted back down to 1.5 and has remained there ever since... even though I have some small mets in my lungs. They are obviously not big enough to affect the CEA in my case.
So... it is a tool... and just as it can change with the slightest provacation of active cancer, it can just as often be a "false" reading.
Be very grateful that we have this tool because if it is indicating the start of something, it means it's at the very beginning stages. Better to catch something at the very beginning stages than not have the tool and years down the road you catch it when there are symptoms... and by then it may be too late to do any kind of treatment.
But, definitely not grounds to panic yet
Hugggggs,
Cheryl0 -
CEACherylHutch said:CEA
No need to panic. As others have mentioned here... CEA is used as a monitoring tool and it works as a great tool on some people and not so great on others. There is nothing 100% accurate about CEA but it could be an "indicator" for the docs to do some more testing. Some people have very low CEA readings even though they have active cancer... others have extremely high readings (I've read where some people have readings into the 100s). So what is a good reading for one person may mean something totally different for another... it all depends on what your husband's average reading is during chemo, after and when the cancer was active vs when it's not.
IE: When I finished my chemo a year ago, my reading was 2.4. At our Agency, anything below 4.0 is considered normal and not to get too excited about. Last December, my reading was 6.7... considered slightly elevated. By Feb it was 18... so definitely showing that it was on the rise... so that's when a PET scan was ordered and sure enough the PET scan lit up with my right adrenal gland. By the time I had the surgery to remove the gland, my CEA was a 30. A month after the surgery, it plummeted back down to 1.5 and has remained there ever since... even though I have some small mets in my lungs. They are obviously not big enough to affect the CEA in my case.
So... it is a tool... and just as it can change with the slightest provacation of active cancer, it can just as often be a "false" reading.
Be very grateful that we have this tool because if it is indicating the start of something, it means it's at the very beginning stages. Better to catch something at the very beginning stages than not have the tool and years down the road you catch it when there are symptoms... and by then it may be too late to do any kind of treatment.
But, definitely not grounds to panic yet
Hugggggs,
Cheryl
Cheryl, sounds like your CEA behaves much like mine. I read about it being "elevated" at 4 and thought when was the last time mine was at 4?!!! Mine doesn't get much below 5 and we start scanning when it gets about 11 or so. At my last surgery to remove the soccer ball sized tumor, etc it was 87. It's currently about 14 and I get results from a multi-phase scan on Thursday. Woo Hoo! It's always something.
mary0 -
My CEA was never a good indicator...
Believe it or not, normal range for CEA is 0-5 (if I remember correctly...). My CEA went up at one point (started at .7 before treatment), turned out to be a small infection....NOT cancer...
DONT panic...it will be ok...just breathe.
Hugs, Kathi0 -
CEAKathiM said:My CEA was never a good indicator...
Believe it or not, normal range for CEA is 0-5 (if I remember correctly...). My CEA went up at one point (started at .7 before treatment), turned out to be a small infection....NOT cancer...
DONT panic...it will be ok...just breathe.
Hugs, Kathi
Thanks to you folks that went before us and have the experience. My cea levels presurgery were 190 and 3 after the cancer was removed from my colon. Since chemo, the levels have increased gradually every month 3.5, 3.8, and now 4.2. My oncologist tells the higher levels are probably due to the increased inflammation of my bowel from the chemo. Watery stools have also dehydrated me. I received an infusion today and was given a bag of saline and I can honestly say I haven't felt this good in three months. I go back for a 5 FU pump disconnet on Thursday and will get another bag of saline. Until then its immodium and G2. Thanks again for the information because without it I would be in panic mode.....David0 -
cea squiet witness said:CEA
Thanks to you folks that went before us and have the experience. My cea levels presurgery were 190 and 3 after the cancer was removed from my colon. Since chemo, the levels have increased gradually every month 3.5, 3.8, and now 4.2. My oncologist tells the higher levels are probably due to the increased inflammation of my bowel from the chemo. Watery stools have also dehydrated me. I received an infusion today and was given a bag of saline and I can honestly say I haven't felt this good in three months. I go back for a 5 FU pump disconnet on Thursday and will get another bag of saline. Until then its immodium and G2. Thanks again for the information because without it I would be in panic mode.....David
my husband has cancer in many organs but his cea level is about 2 so i personally don't have much faith in that at this point. but that is just me
michelle0 -
There are many good responses here
I already posted, but remember that infections, diet, medications - and many unknown effect CEA results. It takes a long time to establish a pattern. Also, chemo, ironically, can cause some people's CEA levels to climb. When I said I had a narrow band witdth on my CEA I wasn't kidding. My high was 4.7 and lowest of lows was 2.4.
All the best.
Pam0 -
CEA Still Slightly Elevated--CT Scan Next Week
Thank you to everyone for their informative and supportive posts on this subject.
My husband's CEA level was retested on Tuesday (original elevation showed up on Friday test at 4.9). Yesterday's follow-up came back at 5.2. So, my husband's oncologist is recommending a CT scan for next week to be sure nothing is going on. Please keep good thoughts for my husband. He (and I) are pretty stressed at the thought that he might be having another recurrence. I was particularly interested in a couple of the posts that indicated that other causes(other than cancer) could account for the rise. I've tried to research that on the Internet but without a lot of success. I can find a list of other conditions (inflammation, pancreatitis, etc.) that could account for a CEA rise but found no indication that medications, vitamins, or alcohol could cause a rise. My husband has not been in chemotherapy since June 2007, so that would not be a cause.
Hatshepsut0 -
I have a scan on Monday, since my CEA went up 3 months agoHatshepsut said:CEA Still Slightly Elevated--CT Scan Next Week
Thank you to everyone for their informative and supportive posts on this subject.
My husband's CEA level was retested on Tuesday (original elevation showed up on Friday test at 4.9). Yesterday's follow-up came back at 5.2. So, my husband's oncologist is recommending a CT scan for next week to be sure nothing is going on. Please keep good thoughts for my husband. He (and I) are pretty stressed at the thought that he might be having another recurrence. I was particularly interested in a couple of the posts that indicated that other causes(other than cancer) could account for the rise. I've tried to research that on the Internet but without a lot of success. I can find a list of other conditions (inflammation, pancreatitis, etc.) that could account for a CEA rise but found no indication that medications, vitamins, or alcohol could cause a rise. My husband has not been in chemotherapy since June 2007, so that would not be a cause.
Hatshepsut
Don't panic. There is not great info on CEA on the internet. I had a CEA 2.5 months ago when my CEA went up to 4.5 (from 2.4) but my oncologist continues to believe it is just my body chemistry and nothing else. My scans have been clean for almost 1.5 years. I had a scan following that CEA (and a retest CEA), my CEA was still 4.4 and the scan was clean.
I had another CEA 3 weeks ago, it was 4.2 and have another scan Monday. I was told that my CEA increase was "clinically insignificant." Althought they are monitoring me closely.
I finished chemo in August 2007.
Protocol is to have a CT after a higher than "normal" CEA. There are many people with CEA levels all over the map. I hope I am one of them and your husband is another.
It is not a definitive test.
God bless,
Pam0 -
Good news!
We saw my husband's oncologist today and he went over the results from my husband's CT scan (following his slight CEA test elevation results).
The CT showed nothing abnormal. Whew! !!!!!!!!!
He will test my husband's CEA again on December 12.
Thank you for your moral support. Two and a half years (and three surgeries) into this journey, I was stressed beyond belief by this "bump in the road."
Hatshepsut0 -
Wonderful NewsHatshepsut said:Good news!
We saw my husband's oncologist today and he went over the results from my husband's CT scan (following his slight CEA test elevation results).
The CT showed nothing abnormal. Whew! !!!!!!!!!
He will test my husband's CEA again on December 12.
Thank you for your moral support. Two and a half years (and three surgeries) into this journey, I was stressed beyond belief by this "bump in the road."
Hatshepsut
I am so happy for you and your husband. Great news!!
God Bless
Beth0 -
I'm dancing!!!!Hatshepsut said:Good news!
We saw my husband's oncologist today and he went over the results from my husband's CT scan (following his slight CEA test elevation results).
The CT showed nothing abnormal. Whew! !!!!!!!!!
He will test my husband's CEA again on December 12.
Thank you for your moral support. Two and a half years (and three surgeries) into this journey, I was stressed beyond belief by this "bump in the road."
Hatshepsut
Congrats on the good news!!!!!
Please keep us posted on the CEA.
Hugs, Kathi
Bump???? More like Mount Everest!!!!!0 -
Great!Hatshepsut said:Good news!
We saw my husband's oncologist today and he went over the results from my husband's CT scan (following his slight CEA test elevation results).
The CT showed nothing abnormal. Whew! !!!!!!!!!
He will test my husband's CEA again on December 12.
Thank you for your moral support. Two and a half years (and three surgeries) into this journey, I was stressed beyond belief by this "bump in the road."
Hatshepsut
That's just fantastic! I know you feel so much better.
*hugs*
Gail0 -
Awesome!Hatshepsut said:Good news!
We saw my husband's oncologist today and he went over the results from my husband's CT scan (following his slight CEA test elevation results).
The CT showed nothing abnormal. Whew! !!!!!!!!!
He will test my husband's CEA again on December 12.
Thank you for your moral support. Two and a half years (and three surgeries) into this journey, I was stressed beyond belief by this "bump in the road."
Hatshepsut
That is good that the CT shows nothing abnormal. You guys have got to be relieved!
mary0 -
Happy for you!Hatshepsut said:Good news!
We saw my husband's oncologist today and he went over the results from my husband's CT scan (following his slight CEA test elevation results).
The CT showed nothing abnormal. Whew! !!!!!!!!!
He will test my husband's CEA again on December 12.
Thank you for your moral support. Two and a half years (and three surgeries) into this journey, I was stressed beyond belief by this "bump in the road."
Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut: As a patient myself I understand perfectly what this good news means to you, congratulations!
Faungg0 -
CEA great for some and a mystery for others.
As I have posted my CEA has been in the 4.2 to 4.5 range for 5 months now, following reading of 2 something during and right after chemo. 5 CEA tests and 3 scans later (the last one a week ago), I am ned with a cea that continues to read 4. something. My oncologist, primary care, radiation oncologist and special consultant all feel that CEA is not a great indicator for me and I probably fall in the 5 percent of all people who have a "normal" cea that is a little high. I asked at what level they would be really concerned. I was told that above 10 - would be seriously concerning for me, but that 4.5 or so may just be my norm.
I am currently on the 3 month plan - CEA every 3 months followed by a scan if it increases (or decreases). They will move my scans to every 6 months if my CEA holds steady and I feel well. At the slightest indication that I am feeling poorly - back I go to the CT.
I hope your husband continues to do well.
Pam0
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