Do you get CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) Blood test for lung cancer?

Posted by whahoo @whahoo, Apr 18 8:54am

Hello,

Is your oncologist using the CEA blood test?

Thanks.

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@whahoo, From what I understand the level can naturally rise and fall. Some oncologists feel that rising results can be alarming for patients when there is no new cancer. Others believe that the tests can be an early sign that something may be headed in the wrong direction.
I do not have CEA tests. My oncologist generally doesn't order them for his patients. If offered, I would probably have the test done. I do have continuing scans (every 3-4 months), and I don't tend to react to every little comment in the reports, so I think I could handle the rise and fall in numbers.
Are you getting CEA tests?
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/22744-cea-test-carcinoembryonic-antigen

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This CEA test is new to me. I've been dealing with lung cancer since 2011 and still dealing with it. Always something changing so its usually every six or three months for scans. I go in next month for another scan so will ask the oncologist about this , if I remember!!!! Interesting tho.

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@lls8000

@whahoo, From what I understand the level can naturally rise and fall. Some oncologists feel that rising results can be alarming for patients when there is no new cancer. Others believe that the tests can be an early sign that something may be headed in the wrong direction.
I do not have CEA tests. My oncologist generally doesn't order them for his patients. If offered, I would probably have the test done. I do have continuing scans (every 3-4 months), and I don't tend to react to every little comment in the reports, so I think I could handle the rise and fall in numbers.
Are you getting CEA tests?
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/22744-cea-test-carcinoembryonic-antigen

Jump to this post

No, I’m not getting them. My oncologist has refused to order it.

REPLY
@jp78

This CEA test is new to me. I've been dealing with lung cancer since 2011 and still dealing with it. Always something changing so its usually every six or three months for scans. I go in next month for another scan so will ask the oncologist about this , if I remember!!!! Interesting tho.

Jump to this post

Post your onc’s response please.

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I kind of read about it, but decided against it. I still plan on talking to my onocologist.

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@jp78

This CEA test is new to me. I've been dealing with lung cancer since 2011 and still dealing with it. Always something changing so its usually every six or three months for scans. I go in next month for another scan so will ask the oncologist about this , if I remember!!!! Interesting tho.

Jump to this post

I will ask my oncologist as well when I see him June, CEA is usually for colon cancer but most of them are adeocarinoma as well.

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My oncologist does not use CEA tests to monitor my cancer. He doesnt think it is useful for his lung cancer patients.

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@whahoo

No, I’m not getting them. My oncologist has refused to order it.

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Mine as well.

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@lls8000

@whahoo, From what I understand the level can naturally rise and fall. Some oncologists feel that rising results can be alarming for patients when there is no new cancer. Others believe that the tests can be an early sign that something may be headed in the wrong direction.
I do not have CEA tests. My oncologist generally doesn't order them for his patients. If offered, I would probably have the test done. I do have continuing scans (every 3-4 months), and I don't tend to react to every little comment in the reports, so I think I could handle the rise and fall in numbers.
Are you getting CEA tests?
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/22744-cea-test-carcinoembryonic-antigen

Jump to this post

My onc has refused with no explanation of why.

REPLY

My onc refused to order with no explanation yet. I saw the thoracic surgeon and what she told me was that the National Cancer Institute issues guidelines for treatment and CEA isn’t part of the guidelines for NSCLC. Apparently there’s no “blood marker” for it.

With that said, a lot of oncologists do order it.

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