CEA
Comments
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welcome to the board
you maybe in the same boat as me, i hope not.
anyway a rising cea likely indicates a recurrence which needs to be confirmed by pet or ct scan.
your numbers are pretty low and cea can be a measure of inflamation.
your oncologist may try to elimenate other potential cuases, either way in my perosnal experience they cannot issue any conventional treatment until they have a defined target on a scan.
even the potential location of a new tumour in relation to the liver can determine the reading in your blood as cea gets filtered by your liver.
just goggle carcino embyonic antigen, lots to read about it and measures.
what my onc looked for was the trendy of increasing values over 6 weekly intervals.
Goodluck, i hope its nothing.
My approach which is best for me is to be as healthy as possible each day and try to find ways our bodies can heal and be strong naturally with the support of supplements and diet and lifestyle.
hugs,
Pete0 -
Hi Pete, thank you verypete43lost_at_sea said:welcome to the board
you maybe in the same boat as me, i hope not.
anyway a rising cea likely indicates a recurrence which needs to be confirmed by pet or ct scan.
your numbers are pretty low and cea can be a measure of inflamation.
your oncologist may try to elimenate other potential cuases, either way in my perosnal experience they cannot issue any conventional treatment until they have a defined target on a scan.
even the potential location of a new tumour in relation to the liver can determine the reading in your blood as cea gets filtered by your liver.
just goggle carcino embyonic antigen, lots to read about it and measures.
what my onc looked for was the trendy of increasing values over 6 weekly intervals.
Goodluck, i hope its nothing.
My approach which is best for me is to be as healthy as possible each day and try to find ways our bodies can heal and be strong naturally with the support of supplements and diet and lifestyle.
hugs,
Pete
Hi Pete, thank you very much. Sorry, I didnt mention, but my name is Gustavo.
My onc by phone told me that my last CT didnt show anything, but asked me to measure CEA again in 15 days and if it keeps rising, make other CT.
I really enjoyed your words.
hugs,
Gustavo0 -
I was Stage 3 rectal cancer also
Hi gpeeira,
Welcome. I don't really have any insight for you but wanted to respond because I was also diagnosed Stage 3 Rectal cancer at age 49 in September, 2010. My CEA is currently 1.9. I have it checked every 3 months. I thought I read somewhere that it is o.k. if it stays under 5. Also, I am not a smoker but I think that can change the "normal"range abit but I do not have any medical background to back that up. I do not drink any alcohol either but I understand that can alter your results as well? My personal followup protocol is CEA marker every 3 months, CT scans every 6 months for the first three years and a colonoscopy once a year until I hit the 5 year mark.
Maybe someone else will be able to give you more insight than I. I wish you well and blessings from Minnesota~0 -
Thank youMinnesotagirl said:I was Stage 3 rectal cancer also
Hi gpeeira,
Welcome. I don't really have any insight for you but wanted to respond because I was also diagnosed Stage 3 Rectal cancer at age 49 in September, 2010. My CEA is currently 1.9. I have it checked every 3 months. I thought I read somewhere that it is o.k. if it stays under 5. Also, I am not a smoker but I think that can change the "normal"range abit but I do not have any medical background to back that up. I do not drink any alcohol either but I understand that can alter your results as well? My personal followup protocol is CEA marker every 3 months, CT scans every 6 months for the first three years and a colonoscopy once a year until I hit the 5 year mark.
Maybe someone else will be able to give you more insight than I. I wish you well and blessings from Minnesota~
I was 40 when I was diagnosed. I wish you all the best too, and thank you for your kind words.
Gustavo0 -
Welcome, Gustavogpereira said:Thank you
I was 40 when I was diagnosed. I wish you all the best too, and thank you for your kind words.
Gustavo
Hi Gustavo,
My CEA was 7.5 at diagnosis, returning to 1.5 post surgery. In the last year, at 3 month intervals, it has been 2.4, 2.8, 3.2, 3.6. Scan is clear. My oncologist is waiting another 3 months, mid March, repeating CEA, if elevated, repeat scan. My liver enzymes are also elevated...still, nothing on scan.
This is one of the many frustrating parts of the disease. Although I am told that if CEA is elevated pre-op, it is usually a good indicator, many things can contribute to its rising. You will find many others on this board who are in similar circumstances....that, in itself, helps me.
Welcome. Hang In!
Cathleen Mary0 -
So it isCathleen Mary said:Welcome, Gustavo
Hi Gustavo,
My CEA was 7.5 at diagnosis, returning to 1.5 post surgery. In the last year, at 3 month intervals, it has been 2.4, 2.8, 3.2, 3.6. Scan is clear. My oncologist is waiting another 3 months, mid March, repeating CEA, if elevated, repeat scan. My liver enzymes are also elevated...still, nothing on scan.
This is one of the many frustrating parts of the disease. Although I am told that if CEA is elevated pre-op, it is usually a good indicator, many things can contribute to its rising. You will find many others on this board who are in similar circumstances....that, in itself, helps me.
Welcome. Hang In!
Cathleen Mary
Hi Cathleen Mary, yes you are right... Scans are clear, but CEA is rising. And, by the method mine is done, 3.0 (men, 5.0 women) is the safety limit. So it is the first time after the surgery it is over 3.0...
Thank you !
Gustavo0 -
Hi Gustavo, My onc tells megpereira said:So it is
Hi Cathleen Mary, yes you are right... Scans are clear, but CEA is rising. And, by the method mine is done, 3.0 (men, 5.0 women) is the safety limit. So it is the first time after the surgery it is over 3.0...
Thank you !
Gustavo
Hi Gustavo,
My onc tells me not to worry unless it gets to 6.... Don't know why that is the magic number.... But mine is up and down all the time...
Tessa0 -
Hello
Hi there. Pleased to meet you. Pardon me if I jump right into your question.
The reason they do not worry if it is under 5.0 is that for people WITHOUT cancer, up to 5.0 is normal.
Now, there could be various reasons other then cancer that you CEA is rising, one being that you have been ill, taking different medications, etc.
So yes, definitely something to keep an eye on, (gosh knows, the minute mine rises I go through the roof with worry)but take at look at other factors that are going on around you that could cause an innocent rise.
Thinking of you, and wishing for the best scenario,
Winter Marie0 -
Thanksnorthernlites said:Hi Gustavo, My onc tells me
Hi Gustavo,
My onc tells me not to worry unless it gets to 6.... Don't know why that is the magic number.... But mine is up and down all the time...
Tessa
Hi Tessa, my concern is about the trend of rising. If it was up and down I must be sincere to you I would feel less concerned.
I wish the best to you, and so nice having people to share this kind of matter...
Gustavo0 -
Best scenarioherdizziness said:Hello
Hi there. Pleased to meet you. Pardon me if I jump right into your question.
The reason they do not worry if it is under 5.0 is that for people WITHOUT cancer, up to 5.0 is normal.
Now, there could be various reasons other then cancer that you CEA is rising, one being that you have been ill, taking different medications, etc.
So yes, definitely something to keep an eye on, (gosh knows, the minute mine rises I go through the roof with worry)but take at look at other factors that are going on around you that could cause an innocent rise.
Thinking of you, and wishing for the best scenario,
Winter Marie
Hi,
I hope you are right. I dont want to fool myself, but I do want to believe in the way you share your thoughts with me. I dont know if is there a relationship, but since I begin to take anticoagulant daily my CEA begins to increase. I take 7.5 Coumadin each day because I faced a small thrombosis (it is ok now) in my right lung. There are other changes in my habits due to end of my treatment (April 2010) that I had moved and take it back.
But I must say reading all the messages in this forum is very positive for me.
Gustavo0 -
Hi, have you done a test
Hi, have you done a test again? It varies along time. But it is not very normal if it rises again and again. You have to see your doctor, just for a suggestion. - how much house can i afford | calories burned by heart rate0 -
CEAgpereira said:Best scenario
Hi,
I hope you are right. I dont want to fool myself, but I do want to believe in the way you share your thoughts with me. I dont know if is there a relationship, but since I begin to take anticoagulant daily my CEA begins to increase. I take 7.5 Coumadin each day because I faced a small thrombosis (it is ok now) in my right lung. There are other changes in my habits due to end of my treatment (April 2010) that I had moved and take it back.
But I must say reading all the messages in this forum is very positive for me.
Gustavo
My husband's cea was stable at 1.5 for 6 months while taking chemo. A CT scan after chemo found
a blood clot on his liver. Three months after taking coumadin for the blood clot his cea increased to to 3.4.
He has another CT scan and cea in two weeks....it has been 3 months since the last tests.
The waiting and wondering is so hard.
Take care....Linda0 -
Coumadintoyfox said:CEA
My husband's cea was stable at 1.5 for 6 months while taking chemo. A CT scan after chemo found
a blood clot on his liver. Three months after taking coumadin for the blood clot his cea increased to to 3.4.
He has another CT scan and cea in two weeks....it has been 3 months since the last tests.
The waiting and wondering is so hard.
Take care....Linda
Thank you for the information, Linda. My CEA was stable before taking Coumadin, but sincerely I dont know any relation regarding CEA results and Coumadin...It is just a supposition I will share next week with my doctor.
Yes, the waiting is so hard. I believe my doctor will ask for CEA and CT scan after seeing CEA rising.
Hope to hear your husband, excellent results !
Thank you.
Gustavo0 -
my cea
my cea is 56.1 how is that compareitvly? and thank you all if not for you i would not have known to ask. john0 -
CEA levelsdruidshadow said:my cea
my cea is 56.1 how is that compareitvly? and thank you all if not for you i would not have known to ask. john
Hi John. I was dx in july 2009 and since then I am always learning how to deal with exams and indicators like CEA. I still have a lot of doubts, and I will make a PET/CT on Friday, as my CEA is in a rising trend.
As far I know, your level of CEA is higher as it would be due to what was diagnosed. So it must go down after surgey and chemo, but this is in a general way.
I must confess I am always afraid when mine is rising, I think CEA is a good indicator to keep us "on" and go to the doctor...
How are you doing? What are the next planned steps for you?
all the best,
Gustavo0
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