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Had colon cancer and now CEA is rising: Scared
Colorectal Cancer | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (37)Comment receiving replies
Thank you for your kind reply.
I am too worried because in many sites and essays on internet i've read
that even steady small increases within normal ranges is also a sign of
recurrence let alone in the next cea test it goes over normal ranges. I
dont know.
Then we live in iran, i dont know if they have that DNA test you mentioned
and i dont think we can have access to sample. I have to ask.
But for now yes we rely on CT and this week's PET SCAN.
Thanks a lot for your help
Replies to "Thank you for your kind reply. I am too worried because in many sites and essays..."
@lida55, as @roywalton mentioned, you are not alone. Other members have worried about rising CEA levels. You may be interested in reading these related discussions:
- CEA up - guessing not good
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cea-up-guessing-not-good/
- Had colon cancer and now CEA is rising: Scared
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/colon-cancer-10-year-and-now-raised-cea/
- Worried about rising CEA levels
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cea-levels/
Have you learned more with the results of the additional imaging tests?
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If you don't have access to CTDNA or Signatera (ask your oncologist), then just trust the standard of care in your area, and in your case the CT or PET. Again, The concept of assay variability is the issue here.... because a CEA value of 1 2 3 or 5 is really the same number, it's only one that number climbs to 10 or 20 is it meaningful at all. I believe a good oncologist would not act on a CEA value alone.