Worried about rising CEA levels

Hi @patbaret, with a history of colon cancer in the family, colonoscopies are usually recommended. Ddid you discuss getting a colonoscopy with your primary care physician?

I'd be concerned as well about the 4.6 and family history and do as your thinking, but I'm also thinking checking with a oncologist would be a good thing.

CEA going up after previous treatment is an indicator that more investigation is necessary (like scans) to see if there's a recurrence somewhere.

There's also another blood test called Signatera which others with cancer have had.

Concern about an elevate cea. Had one a year half ago was 3.1. Was just DX with an angioma and had MD order another one which is 4.6.
There is a family hx of colon ca and had a coloprep not a colonoscopy a few years ago. Getting very concern at this time. Need a routine colonoscopy.

All I can say is trust your gut. If you trust your oncologist and think waiting three months is okay, that's fine. But, if CEA levels are still elevated, would demand a Pet Scan (even with the increased health risks versus other scans) if nother else than for your own peace of mind. Trust that you know your own body.

Mine have gone from 2.9-3.0 to now 6.1 and they have told me the same thing, that you can't go by CEA, not to worry. But even at my height of cancer my CEA was never 6.1. Had colon cancer in 2016 and may scares since then, had abscess 1 year after colon resection which no one has ever been able to explain or correct, gallbladder cancer scare in 2019, last peroneal metastases last year, they say I don't have now, and even in all that did not have high CEA levels. Oncologist says wait 3 months and run another CEA and then maybe a PET. Still concerned.

Demand a pet scan. When I asked for a pet scan even though MRI and cat scan were clean, I was told not to worry about rising CEA level because of recent surgery. Rising CEA level had three time previously indicated cancer had returned. Six months after my request for a scan and assurances not to worry, CEA doubled what it had ever been, rising 6 points in one month. Now my cancer is inoperable. Can't say what if - but, I have a 4-year old at home.

Hi, newby here. My cea fluctuates between 3.5 and 5.0, all scans clear for over two years. Does anyone else have fluctuations like mine. I was stage 3a rectal cancer.

I personally would not introduce any vaccines or medications (that are otherwise taken by patient choice) while receiving cancer drugs. Also during times of blood testing and having Scans.
It would be further advised to review everything that you eat and drink. I have eliminated everything that has any detriment to gastrointestinal health. It's a long list.

My CEA levels have also been jumping around. The Drs. don't get excited about it, but I sure do. I have colon cancer with a lot of mets in my liver.(25) I have been getting chemo for 9 months. (No surgery. There's too much cancer). I started with CEA levels of 323. At first they went down steadily and got as low as 5. In November I got my 4th Covid shot and had a fever, body aches etc.. and the next CEA level jumped up to 19. It's gotten as high as 24 and my liver tumors have stopped shrinking. Have any of you seen your CEA levels rise with a Covid vaccine? Or maybe with any fever? The Drs say not to take the CEA levels too seriously but it's pretty hard not to, especially when the tumors have stopped shrinking and are maybe growing. It has occured to me that maybe the vaccine was not only responsible for rising CEA levels, maybe it did something to my immune system that caused the chemo to stop being as effective? I'm not an antivaxer by any stretch. I've gotten every shot and booster. But I can't help but wonder if I shouldn't get anymore Covid vaccines while I'm trying to fight this disease. Any thoughts? Anybody have a similar experience?

Hi, Sadly my Dear Mom passed away on February 3rd, 2023 from stage 4 colon cancer. She was so brave throughout the 6 year battle. In the past couple of years, the rising CEA was often a huge source of stress to her and the entire family. I think what is critical with a rising CEA is the trend or doubling of... My Mom's last CEA was at 70000 so it can really skyrocket. She had mets to her liver and lungs. For those of you that are concerned with a rising CEA with no corresponding change on a Pet or CT scan there is a blood test that checks for circulating tumor cells. Sometimes lesions cannot yet be picked up on a scan but the CEA can pick up circulating cells. Please urge your doctors to be on high alert for rising CEA levels. They will often say it is due to inflammation or an infection but if the values are doubling/increasing certainly something more sinister could be evolving. We've been through this many years with our Mom and the anxiety can wreak havoc. I wish you all the very best of health. Love to you all.