Had colon cancer and now CEA is rising: Scared

Posted by segerfan @segerfan, Apr 26, 2022

Colon cancer 10 year and now raised CEA
Just had a colonoscopy and it was fine. Went for my yearly check up and CEA is evaluated to 7. no weight loss, no loss of appetite. I am under a great deal of stress, family, marriage lose of a grandchild. Went back to vaping. Doctor is going to do a ct scan. I am scared to death.

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@myjiggers1

I will say that I am currently stage 4 colon cancer and it is very aggressive and my CEA numbers are low. Mine show no indication of colon cancer. So CEA numbers alone cannot dictate whether or not its back. Were they elevated when you were first diagnosed is the question. My first diagnosis was stage 3c in 2023 of August. No elevated CEA for me. Did Folfox 12 rounds and observed. Snuck back in in an area we weren’t monitoring very closely within a 2 month period in Nov 2024. Still no elevated CEA numbers. They can be misleading. I would always err on the side of caution. You are your best advocates. God bless!

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SO SORRY! BLESS YOU!
I went through STAGE IV COLON CANCER 25 years ago and then almost died from the chemo! When I came back to life I said " I WOULD NEVER GIVE UP"! That's when I decided to cure myself! Luckily my job entailed working and traveling in a bus doing business from Mexico to Canada!
In 365 days I fly fished I was on a river for approx. 200 days.
My Sales were off the chart!
My point is it is up to you to heal your body!
All the WONDERFUL MONITORS at Connect know my story!
I'm 78 now and still doing well.
Although Lyme Disease has entered my Life, which makes life tougher!
Caner has never returned!
Sundance aka RB

REPLY
@myjiggers1

I will say that I am currently stage 4 colon cancer and it is very aggressive and my CEA numbers are low. Mine show no indication of colon cancer. So CEA numbers alone cannot dictate whether or not its back. Were they elevated when you were first diagnosed is the question. My first diagnosis was stage 3c in 2023 of August. No elevated CEA for me. Did Folfox 12 rounds and observed. Snuck back in in an area we weren’t monitoring very closely within a 2 month period in Nov 2024. Still no elevated CEA numbers. They can be misleading. I would always err on the side of caution. You are your best advocates. God bless!

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I wish you get well soon and God bless you

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@lida55

But exactly i have this fear that ok this cea has reached to 4.6 now. 3
months later it will be 5 for example. Is it possible that it reaches from
4.6 to 90 or 60 or high numbers next time?????? Thats my fear.
Really i cant concentarte on anything even my work at office.
Ofcource maybe the answer is nobody knows.
If it reaches to those high leves again or above 5 it is likely the
recurrence???
Anyway We have to do ctscan and colonoscopy to find more things.

Jump to this post

I will say that I am currently stage 4 colon cancer and it is very aggressive and my CEA numbers are low. Mine show no indication of colon cancer. So CEA numbers alone cannot dictate whether or not its back. Were they elevated when you were first diagnosed is the question. My first diagnosis was stage 3c in 2023 of August. No elevated CEA for me. Did Folfox 12 rounds and observed. Snuck back in in an area we weren’t monitoring very closely within a 2 month period in Nov 2024. Still no elevated CEA numbers. They can be misleading. I would always err on the side of caution. You are your best advocates. God bless!

REPLY
@magsbrad

Just to say I was diagnosed 4 years ago and my CEA has gone from single to double figures throughout. My highest with no cancer present was 15 it was caused by gut inflammation.
When last year the cancer managed to get to my liver in 3 places the CEA was very high. But even then the surgeon was able to remove the cancer.
The problem with this horrible illness is that it frightens people. I put my hand on my heart and say if I had your husbands low CEA I would be calmed. Those figures he has show inflammation imo not cancer. My surgeon said my cancer was slow growing and he was confident he could rid me of any reoccurrence. Your husband case sounds like mine. We are here 4 years later. I’m in the UK and keep in touch with the Mayo because I may need more advanced treatment in the future and the USA leads the way. You’re in good hands- the best hands. Best regards Maggie

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His cea at the time of diagnose was 92 ir 89. With 9 cm tumor.
I dont know if his cea now is going to rise slowly or it is going to stop
somewhere or it is going to rise rapidly like your case. Thats the problem.
His cea after surgery came to 1 but now it is increasing and it is bad for
me. Maybe the number 4.6 is ok but it is going to rise and rise. That the
problem

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@magsbrad

Just to say I was diagnosed 4 years ago and my CEA has gone from single to double figures throughout. My highest with no cancer present was 15 it was caused by gut inflammation.
When last year the cancer managed to get to my liver in 3 places the CEA was very high. But even then the surgeon was able to remove the cancer.
The problem with this horrible illness is that it frightens people. I put my hand on my heart and say if I had your husbands low CEA I would be calmed. Those figures he has show inflammation imo not cancer. My surgeon said my cancer was slow growing and he was confident he could rid me of any reoccurrence. Your husband case sounds like mine. We are here 4 years later. I’m in the UK and keep in touch with the Mayo because I may need more advanced treatment in the future and the USA leads the way. You’re in good hands- the best hands. Best regards Maggie

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We live in iran you know.
But thanks a lot🥺🥹🥺🥹

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@lida55

But exactly i have this fear that ok this cea has reached to 4.6 now. 3
months later it will be 5 for example. Is it possible that it reaches from
4.6 to 90 or 60 or high numbers next time?????? Thats my fear.
Really i cant concentarte on anything even my work at office.
Ofcource maybe the answer is nobody knows.
If it reaches to those high leves again or above 5 it is likely the
recurrence???
Anyway We have to do ctscan and colonoscopy to find more things.

Jump to this post

Just to say I was diagnosed 4 years ago and my CEA has gone from single to double figures throughout. My highest with no cancer present was 15 it was caused by gut inflammation.
When last year the cancer managed to get to my liver in 3 places the CEA was very high. But even then the surgeon was able to remove the cancer.
The problem with this horrible illness is that it frightens people. I put my hand on my heart and say if I had your husbands low CEA I would be calmed. Those figures he has show inflammation imo not cancer. My surgeon said my cancer was slow growing and he was confident he could rid me of any reoccurrence. Your husband case sounds like mine. We are here 4 years later. I’m in the UK and keep in touch with the Mayo because I may need more advanced treatment in the future and the USA leads the way. You’re in good hands- the best hands. Best regards Maggie

REPLY
@magsbrad

SORRY AUTO CORRECTION
I WOULD follow the advice. Silly autocorrect!!

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Of course. The advice of contributers is very helpful and heartwarming for
me.

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@magsbrad

I would agree with the conclusion above. It’s unlikely to a return of cancer at those low CEA levels. I went from 5 to over 90 in 4 weeks and had 3 metastasised from my original colon cancer to my liver. Luckily all 3 removed. I wouldn’t follow the advice from the other contributor. God bless.

Jump to this post

But exactly i have this fear that ok this cea has reached to 4.6 now. 3
months later it will be 5 for example. Is it possible that it reaches from
4.6 to 90 or 60 or high numbers next time?????? Thats my fear.
Really i cant concentarte on anything even my work at office.
Ofcource maybe the answer is nobody knows.
If it reaches to those high leves again or above 5 it is likely the
recurrence???
Anyway We have to do ctscan and colonoscopy to find more things.

REPLY
@magsbrad

I would agree with the conclusion above. It’s unlikely to a return of cancer at those low CEA levels. I went from 5 to over 90 in 4 weeks and had 3 metastasised from my original colon cancer to my liver. Luckily all 3 removed. I wouldn’t follow the advice from the other contributor. God bless.

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Thank you for your help and advice also.
Good luck

REPLY
@magsbrad

I would agree with the conclusion above. It’s unlikely to a return of cancer at those low CEA levels. I went from 5 to over 90 in 4 weeks and had 3 metastasised from my original colon cancer to my liver. Luckily all 3 removed. I wouldn’t follow the advice from the other contributor. God bless.

Jump to this post

SORRY AUTO CORRECTION
I WOULD follow the advice. Silly autocorrect!!

REPLY
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