Puzzling news on CEA rise

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papajedi
papajedi Member Posts: 110
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I got my monthly results and it went from 4.1 to 18......my last scan was excellent, so much so that 90% or more of the bone mets are gone and no activity, it's odd....what to think ?

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  • bdee
    bdee Member Posts: 304
    #2
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    CEA
    I can't wait to see the answer to your question because the same thing is happening to me. From December to May my CEA has gone from 1 to 8, yet my April CT and PET scans showed my tumors remaining stable. I don't know what to think so I really hope you get some good answers.

    Debbie in Arkansas
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #3
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    CEA

    When cancer cells die, they give off CEA.

    Since it takes time for cancer to grow, an increase in CEA from
    it growing shouldn't be as big an increase as is seen when the
    cells die off in bulk.

    Rather than be worried, just treat the CEA report as part of the
    entire picture. If the tumors are stable (no change; not bigger),
    and there are no other tumors noticed in other areas, relax and
    go get a few Krispy Kreme donuts and maybe a brewski...
  • papajedi
    papajedi Member Posts: 110
    #4
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    John23 said:

    CEA

    When cancer cells die, they give off CEA.

    Since it takes time for cancer to grow, an increase in CEA from
    it growing shouldn't be as big an increase as is seen when the
    cells die off in bulk.

    Rather than be worried, just treat the CEA report as part of the
    entire picture. If the tumors are stable (no change; not bigger),
    and there are no other tumors noticed in other areas, relax and
    go get a few Krispy Kreme donuts and maybe a brewski...

    when cancer cells die they give off CEA
    I hadn't heard that before, can you elaborate..?
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #5
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    papajedi said:

    when cancer cells die they give off CEA
    I hadn't heard that before, can you elaborate..?

    Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)

    What conditions can cause an elevated CEA?

    Both benign and malignant (harmless and cancerous) conditions can
    increase the CEA level. The most frequent cancer which causes an
    increased CEA is cancer of the colon and rectum. Others include
    cancers of the pancreas, stomach, breast, lung, and certain types
    of thyroid and ovarian cancer. Benign conditions which can
    elevate CEA include smoking, infections, inflammatory bowel
    disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and some benign
    tumors in the same organs in which an elevated CEA indicates
    cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause a temporary
    rise in CEA due to the death of tumor cells and release of CEA
    into the blood stream.     Benign disease does not usually cause an
    increase above 10 ng/ml.

    From here: www.medicinenet.com


    CEA and other markers

    Keep in mind, that these tests don't mean much without a full and
    comprehensive review of all symptoms and health situations.

    "The last thing a hypochondriac needs, is a medical journal".

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