Hi Everyone,

I posted a question last week and Alison answered. (Thank you Alison)

I just got a call from the cancer clinic to talk about my CEA level jumping six-tenths of a point from the previous test 2 months ago. My CT scan is scheduled for Oct. 29. The nurse wants me to come in for another CEA on Nov. 2, then I have my appointment with the oncologist Nov. 7.

Has anybody ever had their CEA level go up and then go back down again for no reason at all?
My numbers are not all that high. From 1.3, to 1.9, then the last one was 2.5. The nurse said 2.4 or below is normal. 2.5 is considered elevated.

I'm a very nervous person as it is, but this has got me so freaked out. My anxiety is so bad that I have trouble concentrating on anything.

If anybody out there can tell me what their CEA levels are, and if they go up and come back down, I would appreciate it soooo much.

Thanks in advance and God Bless You,

Barbara

In the last four years my CEA has ranged between 1.2 and 1.8. It tends to go up and down from test to test. I usually have a test done every 4-6 months. My doctor says anything below 5 is considered normal. I'm now going to get tested only every 9 months.

My husband is going through similar concerns right now. But some years ago, when a ct scan showed some spots on the liver, his CEA was 3.1 and the oncologist said he was not surprised that the spots were not malignant as the CEA was low!! So different doctors seem to read the levels differently. My husbands highest was 5 a few months ago, after which it went down again to 3.6, then 3.9 and a month ago, was 4.1. However his scan showed some concern so he is being closely monitored. He was diagnosed over four years ago and has done well so we are hoping and praying there is no local recurrence. Your levels do not seem high to me at all and if you are having a scan in about two weeks, hopefully that will put your mind at rest.