← Return to Worried about rising CEA levels

Discussion

Worried about rising CEA levels

Colorectal Cancer | Last Active: Aug 31 6:47am | Replies (91)
Comment receiving replies
@colleenyoung

Hi @denise777, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can understand that you're concerned about fluctuating CEA levels. As posted above, The CEA testing is notorious for false positives, meaning that the test results may show high levels when they are actually not. That's probably why your doctor ordered several tests.

Here's more info:
– High False-Positive Rate of Elevated CEA Seen in Patients With Resected Colorectal Cancer https://www.ascopost.com/issues/august-15-2014/high-false-positive-rate-of-elevated-cea-seen-in-patients-with-resected-colorectal-cancer/

I know it's really hard not to be anxious, but as they say "don't put the cart before the horse." The CEA levels are a simple test that may indicate the need for further testing to investigate IF there is a change. When will you be able to have an appointment to talk with your oncologist about next steps?

Jump to this post

Replies to "Hi @denise777, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can understand that you're concerned about fluctuating CEA..."
denise777 | @denise777 | Nov 11, 2020

Thank you so much for your reply! I am actually going to be seeing my oncologist tomorrow 🙏🏼 Last time the were just out of range she waited a month and redid them. I have been fighting a bit of a sinus infection and am wondering if that’s why they could have been just out of range. Last time they were out of range my oncologist told me that she wasn’t concerned there could be multiple reasons that would have them to elevate. She said she would be concerned if the numbers jumped a lot higher. I am trying not to stress my self out over this but it is so much easier said than done 😞

VIEW AND REPLY