Dear Folks,

I know everybody is different, but I've got to ask this question anyway. What kind of CEA results are you or your love ones getting after you or they finish chemo treatments?

Mine has been steadily increasing since January. My results have been: 1.3, 1.6, 1.9, and now 2.5 so naturally I'm getting quite concerned. I have a CT scan scheduled October 29th.

Thanks in advance for your answers.:angel:
Barbara

My husband's CEA is steadily going up too and his chemo finished over three years ago. His has never been as low as yours, ranging between 2.9 and 5, presently at 4.1. He had an abnormal scan two months ago and has had two colonospopies with negative biopsy but his oncologist is still not convinced there is no recurrence.

Yours is still below the acceptable level, so hopefully, your scan will be OK. I know it is worrying. Let us know how the scan goes.

Hi Alison,

Thank you so much, I hope your husband is ok, but it's good that his doc is willing to keep checking.

How are you doing? I remember that you were diagnosed also. Are your treatments over? Was it lymphoma? My cousin just finished her chemo for non-Hodgkins lymphoma and she is feeling and looking great. I met a woman recently who was diagnosed in 1990 and took chemo and has not had any reoccurance. Praise the Lord! Chemo works. We are fortunate to live in a day with so many modern tests, scans and treatments that were not offered years ago.

Blessings to both you and your husband,
Barbara

Thanks Barbara, I am feeling good...get tired more easily but otherwise no-one would ever know I have/had cancer. Unfortunately, my lymphoma is not curable but it is treatable and I am hoping my present remission lasts a long, long time! You are right, we are lucky that there are so many treatment options that were not available a few years ago. As long as we can have prolonged quality of life, we are very fortunate.

We are lucky to have a vigilant oncologist. I always worry more about my husband than I do about myself, so I will be so glad when we get over this present challenge.

Love,

My dad finished chemo and radiation Dec. 2006. His cea was 1.8, 2.0, 3.8 and now as of July 07' it was 4.4 . He goes for a ct scan Oct. 29th. When he was 1st diagnosed with rectal cancer Feb. 2006, his cea was 47.
Cynthia

Hi Cynthia,

Your Dad goes in for his CT scan the same day as I have mine. Please keep me posted on how he is doing. He will certainly be in my prayers.

I went on a mini vacation to Gettysburg PA and that was nice. I came back a little calmer than I was last week.

As my oncologist said these tests will be ongoing. I guess some people can handle it better than others. I'm just thankful that we have tests that were not available to cancer patients years ago.

Thanks for writing,
Barbara

Mine started at 17 and went down to below 1. This is after chemo and a liver resection (Stage 4). I just had a CT and they found 2 small spots in my right lung but are not sure what they are. They want to wait and see for 3 months what happens. My CEA is still below 1 but understandablly I am very nerous.
Impactzone

I am sorry I cannot advise, impactzone, but just wanted to say I hope those spots turn out to be nothing. Wishing you well!

Love,

Hi Impactzone,

I know a man whose cancer came back after 5 yrs and 10 mos and his CEA did not rise at all. He had a huge tumor where the small intestine and large intestine join. I don't know how to spell the word for the site, cecum, or something like that. Anyway he was in a lot of pain and it baffled everyone as to why the CEA did not show it.

I will say a prayer for you that these spots will be nothing at all. I know this waiting game is horrible. ((( Big Hug )))

Blessings:angel:
Barbara

I think this shows how the CEA alone cannot be relied upon, but can be a useful tool when used along with scans and colonoscopies. Of course, too, it is important to report any symptoms you might be having, as soon as they start.

Love, Alison

I had a lady give me an answer from another colon cancer board and she said her CEA jumped 7 or 8 points when she went to stage 4 cancer with a small tumor on the liver. The doc removed the tumor and she went through some easy chemo treatments and all is well now. So that made me feel a lot better.

So you are right, Alison, CEAs are not 100% positive or negative in predicting what is going on inside of us. Thank God for CTs, PETs, and MRIs.

Blessings:angel:
Barbara