CEA rise then dip on CPT-11

taraHK
taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I've had 2 rounds of Xeliri +Avastic. My CEA rose :( Only 2 cycles so far so we're gonna try another 2 before checking again.

My onc said he's aware that, with Oxaliplatin, CEA can rise at first then fall dramatically -- due to cancer cell death (necro-something). I remember have heard that theory on the board before. But, he says he hasn't heard of that happening with CPT-11. I'm not discouraged yet but I would LOVE to hear from anyone who had a rise in CEA then a dip while on CPT-11 (or folfiri or xeliri, etc).

CEA was never a good indicator for me (my first 4 times!) until very recently so I'm not so familiar with following it.

Trying not to obsess. Keep the faith.

Thanks
Tara

Comments

  • bdee
    bdee Member Posts: 304
    #2
    CEA on the rise
    Tara,
    I'm was on 5FU, Avastin and Flolic Acid for about 10 months with no big rise in the my CEA. Then, all of a sudden, every two weeks it would be up a point or two. When my CEA hit 11 in May my onc decided to add CPT-11 to the mix. My CEA went up to 13.4 after one treatment but down to 11.4 for the second treatment then back up to 11.6 on the third treatment. I'm scheduled to have a CT Scan the first week in August, because I haven't had one in four months when my CEA was 5 and everything on my CT was stable.

    Debbie in Arkansas
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    thanks
    Thanks Kathy -- Just what I wanted to hear! I hope I will be following in your footsteps (re CEA falling) soon. Hope you are doing well.

    Best,
    Tara
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #5
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    thanks
    Thanks Kathy -- Just what I wanted to hear! I hope I will be following in your footsteps (re CEA falling) soon. Hope you are doing well.

    Best,
    Tara
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #6
    bdee said:

    CEA on the rise
    Tara,
    I'm was on 5FU, Avastin and Flolic Acid for about 10 months with no big rise in the my CEA. Then, all of a sudden, every two weeks it would be up a point or two. When my CEA hit 11 in May my onc decided to add CPT-11 to the mix. My CEA went up to 13.4 after one treatment but down to 11.4 for the second treatment then back up to 11.6 on the third treatment. I'm scheduled to have a CT Scan the first week in August, because I haven't had one in four months when my CEA was 5 and everything on my CT was stable.

    Debbie in Arkansas

    good luck
    Thanks for your reply, Debbie. I'll be having a scan in early August, too. Fingers crossed for both of us!!

    Tara
  • lmchils57
    lmchils57 Member Posts: 59
    #7
    I am not sure I totally understand CEA
    I am not sure I totally understand CEA. My sons oncologists talks in thousands and hundreds not something point something, so I am really surious where he stands when it comes to the something point something. He started out at 7880 and four weeks ago he was down to 882 so his are decreasing and have not gone up at all (yet) during his treatments. He has two treatments left and I am anxious to hear what his CEA counts are this week along with the results of his latest CT Scan. Anyway if anyone can clear up the difference I would love it.
    Thanks-
    Linda
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #8
    sending positive vibes
    Tara, my friend and cancer soul sister,

    I have no answers, but I am sending positive vibes and thoughts to you. I hope that the chemo you are on beats the cancers a##, if anyone can get through this you can. You are such a srong person. Try not too worry, I will be praying for low CEA'S for you.

    Maureen
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #9
    lmchils57 said:

    I am not sure I totally understand CEA
    I am not sure I totally understand CEA. My sons oncologists talks in thousands and hundreds not something point something, so I am really surious where he stands when it comes to the something point something. He started out at 7880 and four weeks ago he was down to 882 so his are decreasing and have not gone up at all (yet) during his treatments. He has two treatments left and I am anxious to hear what his CEA counts are this week along with the results of his latest CT Scan. Anyway if anyone can clear up the difference I would love it.
    Thanks-
    Linda

    CEA
    CEA, as I understand it, is a cancer activity marker. For some, the marker is very accurate, for others, not so much.

    For George, it has been an excellent indicator. Ours started out just under 900 and now hovers around 20/23. Of course, I want single digits, but our doc, for now, is happy with the numbers, it indicates, for us, the cancer is stable, mets decreasing, no progression. Since George is Stage IV, this really is very good news for us.

    BTW, how is Scott (hope I have his name right) doing? How are his kids doing? Haven't seen you post in a while. Hope all is going well for you and your family and especially, Scott. Come back and let us know how his scan went.

    Also, don't hesitate to ask the doc or his pa about CEA, have them explain it to you so you understand exactly what they are talking about.

    Tina
  • Sonia32
    Sonia32 Member Posts: 1,071 Member
    #10
    Sending you good thoughts and prayers...
    that your cea drops, hugs.

    Sonia
  • lmchils57
    lmchils57 Member Posts: 59
    #11
    geotina said:

    CEA
    CEA, as I understand it, is a cancer activity marker. For some, the marker is very accurate, for others, not so much.

    For George, it has been an excellent indicator. Ours started out just under 900 and now hovers around 20/23. Of course, I want single digits, but our doc, for now, is happy with the numbers, it indicates, for us, the cancer is stable, mets decreasing, no progression. Since George is Stage IV, this really is very good news for us.

    BTW, how is Scott (hope I have his name right) doing? How are his kids doing? Haven't seen you post in a while. Hope all is going well for you and your family and especially, Scott. Come back and let us know how his scan went.

    Also, don't hesitate to ask the doc or his pa about CEA, have them explain it to you so you understand exactly what they are talking about.

    Tina

    Thanks Tina
    Thanks Tina for the explaination, I just did not get the difference when people talk about something like 20.5 and are hearing 7800 and on down. Scott is doing quite well. He got his CT results today and the shrinkage is very good in the tumors in the liver, I don't think we will know how the one in the colon is doing until his colonoscopy which will probably be in the next month. His CEA is dwon to 556 from 872, which is way down frorm the 7800 when he was first diagnosed. The dr seems pleased with his progress. He is back to working part-time because his dr did not want him to work full-time and over tire himself, he was pretty run down when he was first diagnosed. His boys are doing great with it, they are still young enough they don't totally get it, it has been more in the lives this summer since they spend the whole summer with him. He shares custody and during the school year they really did not see him with the pump on and such so it has been an adjustment for them. As long a daddy is doing ok they are doing ok, if were to get really sick again then I don't know how they will do. If and when he has surgery may be hard for them too but they will deal with it as will we all. They are strong little boys.
    This summer has been a little tough for me because I was going to all of Scott's appointments with him but have not been able to since the 1st part of June so have to let Scott relay the information to me and I would like to be there to hear what the dr has to say. I am not always sure what he will and won't tell me or what basically he will downplay for my sake. I think it is just a mom thing I want to be there and don't like not being alble to be. I will be going with him to his appointment in August no matter what, their mom will watch them or my other son who will be moved back here by then will watch them. I don't feel I want to miss that one since that one will be the one where they will be telling us the next steps.
    Thanks again and take care-
    Linda
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #12
    lmchils57 said:

    Thanks Tina
    Thanks Tina for the explaination, I just did not get the difference when people talk about something like 20.5 and are hearing 7800 and on down. Scott is doing quite well. He got his CT results today and the shrinkage is very good in the tumors in the liver, I don't think we will know how the one in the colon is doing until his colonoscopy which will probably be in the next month. His CEA is dwon to 556 from 872, which is way down frorm the 7800 when he was first diagnosed. The dr seems pleased with his progress. He is back to working part-time because his dr did not want him to work full-time and over tire himself, he was pretty run down when he was first diagnosed. His boys are doing great with it, they are still young enough they don't totally get it, it has been more in the lives this summer since they spend the whole summer with him. He shares custody and during the school year they really did not see him with the pump on and such so it has been an adjustment for them. As long a daddy is doing ok they are doing ok, if were to get really sick again then I don't know how they will do. If and when he has surgery may be hard for them too but they will deal with it as will we all. They are strong little boys.
    This summer has been a little tough for me because I was going to all of Scott's appointments with him but have not been able to since the 1st part of June so have to let Scott relay the information to me and I would like to be there to hear what the dr has to say. I am not always sure what he will and won't tell me or what basically he will downplay for my sake. I think it is just a mom thing I want to be there and don't like not being alble to be. I will be going with him to his appointment in August no matter what, their mom will watch them or my other son who will be moved back here by then will watch them. I don't feel I want to miss that one since that one will be the one where they will be telling us the next steps.
    Thanks again and take care-
    Linda

    I am glad Scott is doing so
    I am glad Scott is doing so well; it sounds like things are moving in the right direction. You sound like a wonderful Mom; you are giving Scott great support. Here's to a great summer with the boys!

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