Elevated CEA levels

Tanya17 · February 2016

My mother, a 89-year old in a very good physical and mental state, underwent curative surgery (right hemicolectomy) for stage II (T3N0M0) moderately differentiated cecal adenocarcinoma on September 21^st 2015. The tumor was found accidentally during a routine colonoscopy screen. The operation was not followed by chemotherapy. Post-operative CEA was first determined on 11.19.2015. After that it was measured 4 more times. The last measurement was done on 2.4.2016. These are the values in chronological order: 5.5; 5.0; 5.5; 6.0; 5.2. There is no blood in the stool, and the ultrasound of liver and other organs is negative. Other oncomarkers are normal (CA 19-9, CA 72-4 and CA 242). Unfortunately, the pre-operative level of CEA was not measured. My mother does not have symptoms, and gained 8 pound since surgery. PET-CT is scheduled for the next week. I am very concerned about the elevated CEA levels and will be very grateful for your opinion and advice.

Trubrit · February 2016

Welcome to the forum

Sorry that your dear mother has to go through this at such a grand age. But how wonderful that she is keeping up with her regular scans, and this was found at an early stage.

CEA can be a tricky indicator, with so many variables. For some, CEA is a good indicator of tumour presence, for others it is all over the place, and can't be relied upon. We have one member here, Jan, with liver and lung mets, yet her CEA is 3. Others with a extreme CEA and no mets visible.

5 is considered within range for smokers or former smokers, and in some papers, even considered acceptable for non-smokers. After my Liver surgery, my Oncologist started to feel easier once my CEA dropped to 5.

Sit back and take a deep breath, and wait to see how her next PET/CT turn out.

I pray for great results and that she will be able to enjoy birthdays well into her 90's.

Sue - Trubrit

Tanya17 · February 2016

Trubrit said:
Welcome to the forum
Sorry that your dear mother has to go through this at such a grand age. But how wonderful that she is keeping up with her regular scans, and this was found at an early stage.

CEA can be a tricky indicator, with so many variables. For some, CEA is a good indicator of tumour presence, for others it is all over the place, and can't be relied upon. We have one member here, Jan, with liver and lung mets, yet her CEA is 3. Others with a extreme CEA and no mets visible.

5 is considered within range for smokers or former smokers, and in some papers, even considered acceptable for non-smokers. After my Liver surgery, my Oncologist started to feel easier once my CEA dropped to 5.

Sit back and take a deep breath, and wait to see how her next PET/CT turn out.

I pray for great results and that she will be able to enjoy birthdays well into her 90's.

Sue - Trubrit

Dear Sue,
Thank you very much

Dear Sue,

Thank you very much for your support! My mother never smoked, and it is just very unfortunate that we do not have a pre-operatve level of CEA. We already did PET-CT in September before the operation, and it was positive only at the site of the tumor in the cecum. Therefore I am so puzzled concernng her elevated level of CEA straight after the operation. I will let you know the result of the PET-CT scan as soon as it's done. Thanks again and I hope very much that you will continue to do well!!!

Tanya

JanJan63 · February 2016

Tanya17 said:
Dear Sue,
Thank you very much
Dear Sue,

Thank you very much for your support! My mother never smoked, and it is just very unfortunate that we do not have a pre-operatve level of CEA. We already did PET-CT in September before the operation, and it was positive only at the site of the tumor in the cecum. Therefore I am so puzzled concernng her elevated level of CEA straight after the operation. I will let you know the result of the PET-CT scan as soon as it's done. Thanks again and I hope very much that you will continue to do well!!!

Tanya

Sorry Sue, mine isn't even 3.

Sorry Sue, mine isn't even 3. It's never been above 2 and is now .8 while I have mets in my lung. I don't know what it was previous to my surgery two years ago, though. It would be helpful if it could be relied on. I don't have any mets in my liver, just one lung.

Jan

Trubrit · February 2016

JanJan63 said:
Sorry Sue, mine isn't even 3.
Sorry Sue, mine isn't even 3. It's never been above 2 and is now .8 while I have mets in my lung. I don't know what it was previous to my surgery two years ago, though. It would be helpful if it could be relied on. I don't have any mets in my liver, just one lung.

Jan

Blame it on Chemo brain

Sorry Jan! I am obviously getting you confused with someone else. I could say 'blame it on Chemo brain' but alas, I think its probably attributed to older age.

But you're still a good example of CEA. And I thought mets usually went from colon to liver to lung. I obviously still have allot to learn, thus I plan to stick around for a while.

Signing off with a red face Smiley sorry 20.GIF

Sue - Trubrit

JanJan63 · February 2016

Trubrit said:
Blame it on Chemo brain
Sorry Jan! I am obviously getting you confused with someone else. I could say 'blame it on Chemo brain' but alas, I think its probably attributed to older age.

But you're still a good example of CEA. And I thought mets usually went from colon to liver to lung. I obviously still have allot to learn, thus I plan to stick around for a while.

Signing off with a red face

Sue - Trubrit

Don't concern yourself Sue!

Don't concern yourself Sue! Apparently it's more common for it to go to the liver first but it can go like mine did. I think he said less than 20% of the time. I still think it had something to do with the blood clot in that lung, like maybe that irritated the area or something.

NewHere · February 2016

Trubrit said:
Blame it on Chemo brain
Sorry Jan! I am obviously getting you confused with someone else. I could say 'blame it on Chemo brain' but alas, I think its probably attributed to older age.

But you're still a good example of CEA. And I thought mets usually went from colon to liver to lung. I obviously still have allot to learn, thus I plan to stick around for a while.

Signing off with a red face

Sue - Trubrit

We Get Very Few Perks

I could say 'blame it on Chemo brain'

This is one. I will use chemo brain for AT LEAST the next 40 years myself, which will be 39 years after my last chemo treatment. (Though I think it is already wearing thin with my wife )

Lovekitties · February 2016

Hi

CEA value may or may not be indicative of cancer. It can rise and fall based on an infection.

More importantly when it is a lower number (not in the hundreds) is the trending. Since the last is lower than that of just post surgery, I would think that is a good sign.

Like most other health things, the numbers we hear are "norms" not absolutes. I would be more concerned if it was consistantly trending up or took a big jump...in this case over 10.

I know it is hard not to look at every issue, big or small, as an indicator of a cancer return, but the scans are better for most at finding a recurrance.

Wishing your mom best results.

Marie who loves kitties

beaumontdave · February 2016

Trubrit said:
Blame it on Chemo brain
Sorry Jan! I am obviously getting you confused with someone else. I could say 'blame it on Chemo brain' but alas, I think its probably attributed to older age.

But you're still a good example of CEA. And I thought mets usually went from colon to liver to lung. I obviously still have allot to learn, thus I plan to stick around for a while.

Signing off with a red face

Sue - Trubrit

I like it! I can use "chemo

I like it! I can use "chemo brain" in place of dementia and getting old, then it's not just me screwing up. LOL. Just teasing Sue. On the question of CEA, if you have a pattern and it follows the absence or presence of cancer, fine, it's useful. If not, screw it, it's not worth sweating over, ignore it..................................Dave

Elevated CEA levels

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