A slightly elevated CEA is not a stand alone symptom of cancer.
A small spot in a lung, often a benign nodule, as seen in a CT Scan, may be first looked at over time to identify growth.
Have you asked these questions of the doctor who ordered your CT Scan ?
You would want to discuss lung issues with a Cardiovascular and Thoracic surgeon.
Your question is actually too vague asked in one sentence and no medical history given.
Why is your CEA being tested and what originally was a reason for the CT Scan ?
Are you a previous cancer patient or just getting started after a diagnosis or having symptoms ?
Please get informed answers from your doctors or others that you may be referred to in an actual cancer hospital.
May you hear good news to ease your concerns!!
Paul
Was your CEA elevated prior to diagnosis? That was never an indicator for me, but mine rose slightly from 1 to a 2, and waivered between then. It can elevate slightly due to other factors, so try not to worry excessively (easier said then done)
It was up when diagnosed but then decreased post liver resection and colon mass removal
It has been 1.4-1.7 and rose to 2.7
Above normal in addition to new spot on lungs
So this is my concern
A slightly elevated CEA is not a stand alone symptom of cancer.
A small spot in a lung, often a benign nodule, as seen in a CT Scan, may be first looked at over time to identify growth.
Have you asked these questions of the doctor who ordered your CT Scan ?
You would want to discuss lung issues with a Cardiovascular and Thoracic surgeon.
Your question is actually too vague asked in one sentence and no medical history given.
Why is your CEA being tested and what originally was a reason for the CT Scan ?
Are you a previous cancer patient or just getting started after a diagnosis or having symptoms ?
Please get informed answers from your doctors or others that you may be referred to in an actual cancer hospital.
May you hear good news to ease your concerns!!
Paul
Just to add to this -
after surgery to remove my cancer (colon and surrounding lymph nodes), CT scans found numerous things of concern, from kidney and liver cysts, thyroid nodules and 6 spots on the lungs. My treatment was chemo in case of malignancies elsewhere. We did scans quarterly to watch those spots for change in size and check for any new spots as well as the CEA work. None of them grew, they are too small to biopsy and no new ones have appeared so nothing is being done with them.
Yours is different because it's a new spot which may or may not be cancer and may or may not be growing.
I have one suspicious spot in the area of the surgery which was declining in size (that's good), but the last scan 4 months ago showed it increasing in size (not so good). So they shortened the scan interval from 6 months to 4. We will see after the scan/CEA test next week.
The net of it is that a) they don't know and b) because of it's tiny size, can't biopsy it to find out. The next scan and blood work may give some better data to work with. So for me, it's keep doing regular surveillance scans and blood tests until we know more per my oncologist. I guessing/thinking your situation is similar.
It was up when diagnosed but then decreased post liver resection and colon mass removal
It has been 1.4-1.7 and rose to 2.7
Above normal in addition to new spot on lungs
So this is my concern
Try not to worry. That is a very small increase and your next test could be back down. I agree with what someone else said, they may compare to prior scans and just monitor. I went back through my blood work, and I actually did have a level that was over 2.3 and I remember freaking out. My oncologist wasn’t concerned at all.
Just to add to this -
after surgery to remove my cancer (colon and surrounding lymph nodes), CT scans found numerous things of concern, from kidney and liver cysts, thyroid nodules and 6 spots on the lungs. My treatment was chemo in case of malignancies elsewhere. We did scans quarterly to watch those spots for change in size and check for any new spots as well as the CEA work. None of them grew, they are too small to biopsy and no new ones have appeared so nothing is being done with them.
Yours is different because it's a new spot which may or may not be cancer and may or may not be growing.
I have one suspicious spot in the area of the surgery which was declining in size (that's good), but the last scan 4 months ago showed it increasing in size (not so good). So they shortened the scan interval from 6 months to 4. We will see after the scan/CEA test next week.
The net of it is that a) they don't know and b) because of it's tiny size, can't biopsy it to find out. The next scan and blood work may give some better data to work with. So for me, it's keep doing regular surveillance scans and blood tests until we know more per my oncologist. I guessing/thinking your situation is similar.
Just to add to this -
after surgery to remove my cancer (colon and surrounding lymph nodes), CT scans found numerous things of concern, from kidney and liver cysts, thyroid nodules and 6 spots on the lungs. My treatment was chemo in case of malignancies elsewhere. We did scans quarterly to watch those spots for change in size and check for any new spots as well as the CEA work. None of them grew, they are too small to biopsy and no new ones have appeared so nothing is being done with them.
Yours is different because it's a new spot which may or may not be cancer and may or may not be growing.
I have one suspicious spot in the area of the surgery which was declining in size (that's good), but the last scan 4 months ago showed it increasing in size (not so good). So they shortened the scan interval from 6 months to 4. We will see after the scan/CEA test next week.
The net of it is that a) they don't know and b) because of it's tiny size, can't biopsy it to find out. The next scan and blood work may give some better data to work with. So for me, it's keep doing regular surveillance scans and blood tests until we know more per my oncologist. I guessing/thinking your situation is similar.
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A slightly elevated CEA is not a stand alone symptom of cancer.
A small spot in a lung, often a benign nodule, as seen in a CT Scan, may be first looked at over time to identify growth.
Have you asked these questions of the doctor who ordered your CT Scan ?
You would want to discuss lung issues with a Cardiovascular and Thoracic surgeon.
Your question is actually too vague asked in one sentence and no medical history given.
Why is your CEA being tested and what originally was a reason for the CT Scan ?
Are you a previous cancer patient or just getting started after a diagnosis or having symptoms ?
Please get informed answers from your doctors or others that you may be referred to in an actual cancer hospital.
May you hear good news to ease your concerns!!
Paul
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionWas your CEA elevated prior to diagnosis? That was never an indicator for me, but mine rose slightly from 1 to a 2, and waivered between then. It can elevate slightly due to other factors, so try not to worry excessively (easier said then done)
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionIt was up when diagnosed but then decreased post liver resection and colon mass removal
It has been 1.4-1.7 and rose to 2.7
Above normal in addition to new spot on lungs
So this is my concern
Just to add to this -
after surgery to remove my cancer (colon and surrounding lymph nodes), CT scans found numerous things of concern, from kidney and liver cysts, thyroid nodules and 6 spots on the lungs. My treatment was chemo in case of malignancies elsewhere. We did scans quarterly to watch those spots for change in size and check for any new spots as well as the CEA work. None of them grew, they are too small to biopsy and no new ones have appeared so nothing is being done with them.
Yours is different because it's a new spot which may or may not be cancer and may or may not be growing.
I have one suspicious spot in the area of the surgery which was declining in size (that's good), but the last scan 4 months ago showed it increasing in size (not so good). So they shortened the scan interval from 6 months to 4. We will see after the scan/CEA test next week.
The net of it is that a) they don't know and b) because of it's tiny size, can't biopsy it to find out. The next scan and blood work may give some better data to work with. So for me, it's keep doing regular surveillance scans and blood tests until we know more per my oncologist. I guessing/thinking your situation is similar.
All the best to you.
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Hug
3 ReactionsTry not to worry. That is a very small increase and your next test could be back down. I agree with what someone else said, they may compare to prior scans and just monitor. I went back through my blood work, and I actually did have a level that was over 2.3 and I remember freaking out. My oncologist wasn’t concerned at all.
Great to hear!
I appreciate all of your wisdom and comforting thoughts.
Trust the process will be mantra!!!
You as well!
Thank you so much!
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2 Reactions@jvr, how are you doing? Have seen your oncologist in the meantime or had additional testing?
@rjjacobsen
Have you ever had the Signatera blood test done?
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1 ReactionScans were no change from the last, CEA is still reasonably low, platelets remain 25% below the lower acceptable threshold.
I see the oncologist on Tuesday, I assume we will continue the wait, scan/blood work cycle at either a 4 month or 6 month period.