1. < Colorectal Cancer

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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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 20, 2024
In reply to @lida55 "Hello dear mayo teamMy husband is 40 years old. Near 4 years ago had colon cancer..." + (show)
@lida55

Hello dear mayo teamMy husband is 40 years old. Near 4 years ago had colon cancer stage 3b. Had surgery and 13 chemo sessions. About 1 year ago his cea level started to increase from 0.9 to 1, 2, 2.2,... and 5 months ago it reached to 4. We did sono, ct scan, pet scan and andoscopy and colonoscopy. Everything was good and just two polyps were removed. One month after his cea was 3.3 and we were happy. Now after 3 month his cea is 4.3.😰Does it mean anyrhing again??? We should repeat all pet and ct and colonoscopy again???? What should we do??? It is like nightmare for me. I really scare from this cea. Five months ago it was 4 then 3.3 and now 4.3.We are going to meet oncologist but could you give me some help and guide me what to do and should i worry?????? Does it mean recurrence?We did pet scan 3 months ago and now cea is 4.3. Was pet scan wrong or it didnt show anything???!!!!We live in iran.Thanks

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Hi @lida55, as you may already know CEA levels can mean many things. Here's some info from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cea/tab/test/ which states "Increased CEA levels can indicate some non-cancer-related conditions, such as inflammation, cirrhosis, peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis, rectal polyps, emphysema, and benign breast disease."

Monitoring CEA levels is only one tool for tracking possible progression of disease. Changing CEA levels are worrying. It's hard to remain calm about it. Have you met with your husband's oncologist in the meantime? What did you find out?

REPLY
1 reply
lida55 | @lida55 | Sep 20, 2024
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @lida55, as you may already know CEA levels can mean many things. Here's some info..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @lida55, as you may already know CEA levels can mean many things. Here's some info from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cea/tab/test/ which states "Increased CEA levels can indicate some non-cancer-related conditions, such as inflammation, cirrhosis, peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis, rectal polyps, emphysema, and benign breast disease."

Monitoring CEA levels is only one tool for tracking possible progression of disease. Changing CEA levels are worrying. It's hard to remain calm about it. Have you met with your husband's oncologist in the meantime? What did you find out?

Jump to this post

Hello.
Thanks for your kind reply.
Yes we met his doctor and he said it relates to inflammation in his colon maybe becase his stool calprotecion also was high around 210. He gave some medicine and we have to do test cea after 2 months again. I hope it decrease. Because i myself am losing all my hair of worry and stress and i have huge hairfall, weight increase.... stress is very bad

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 26, 2024
In reply to @lida55 "Hello. Thanks for your kind reply. Yes we met his doctor and he said it relates..." + (show)
@lida55

Hello.
Thanks for your kind reply.
Yes we met his doctor and he said it relates to inflammation in his colon maybe becase his stool calprotecion also was high around 210. He gave some medicine and we have to do test cea after 2 months again. I hope it decrease. Because i myself am losing all my hair of worry and stress and i have huge hairfall, weight increase.... stress is very bad

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@lida55, stress is hard and you need to also think of your health. Have you thought of speaking with an oncology social worker at the center where your husband is treated? They are there for you too.

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lida55 | @lida55 | Feb 22 11:02pm

Hi Dear MAYO
For updating my husband case. I told you that his cea was 4 after 3 years of surgery and chemo. We did petscan 8 months ago. He was clear. But his cea again went up to 4.3 and we did colonscopy also .he had two polyps and doctor removed. Then doctor said he had inflammation in colon and gave him medicine. Then his cea came to 4.1 . I was happy a little. But nowhis cea again jumps to 4.6. He uses his medicine even now.
So now I AM worried a lot. Why his cea elevates.
How far it is going to elevate??
Is there any hope that it stops
???
And 4.6 again a sign of recurrence or we should wait and do ultrasound and these thing
Pls help me
Thanks

REPLY
lida55 | @lida55 | Feb 22 11:10pm
In reply to @lida55 "Hello dear mayo teamMy husband is 40 years old. Near 4 years ago had colon cancer..." + (show)
@lida55

Hello dear mayo teamMy husband is 40 years old. Near 4 years ago had colon cancer stage 3b. Had surgery and 13 chemo sessions. About 1 year ago his cea level started to increase from 0.9 to 1, 2, 2.2,... and 5 months ago it reached to 4. We did sono, ct scan, pet scan and andoscopy and colonoscopy. Everything was good and just two polyps were removed. One month after his cea was 3.3 and we were happy. Now after 3 month his cea is 4.3.😰Does it mean anyrhing again??? We should repeat all pet and ct and colonoscopy again???? What should we do??? It is like nightmare for me. I really scare from this cea. Five months ago it was 4 then 3.3 and now 4.3.We are going to meet oncologist but could you give me some help and guide me what to do and should i worry?????? Does it mean recurrence?We did pet scan 3 months ago and now cea is 4.3. Was pet scan wrong or it didnt show anything???!!!!We live in iran.Thanks

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Hello dear Mayo.
My husband's pet was clear but the cea was 4. . They found two polyps and temoved it. Cea goes to 4.3. Then the doctor said he has inflammation in colon and gave some medicine,cea falls to 4.1.
Now his cea is 4.6 and again i am wooried to death. What should i do.
I also remember you said dont worry. These numbers are low.but when it stops this cea????😰😰😰😰😰

But his cea again jumps to 4.6. Now i am worried.

REPLY
1 reply
cartenhopper | @cartenhopper | Feb 23 9:03am

When I was first diagnosed with colon cancer, stage 4, my CEA was 111! Now it has gone down to 8,0 and fluctuates up and down. My doc said that when the levels get this low it will fluctuate up and down and not to worry. She said they count more on CT scans to determine the cancer status. So don't read into the CEA values too much, unless they are a very high value.

REPLY
1 reply
roywalton | @roywalton | Feb 24 6:57am

Please don't place too much reliance on CEA. Normal levels up to five can be expected for non-smokers and even 10 is not actionable. Is my understanding that only levels at 20 or higher, would prompt surveillance by pet, CT or MRI. Try to relax!

REPLY
1 reply
lida55 | @lida55 | Feb 24 10:11am
In reply to @roywalton "Please don't place too much reliance on CEA. Normal levels up to five can be expected..." + (show)
@roywalton

Please don't place too much reliance on CEA. Normal levels up to five can be expected for non-smokers and even 10 is not actionable. Is my understanding that only levels at 20 or higher, would prompt surveillance by pet, CT or MRI. Try to relax!

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Thank you a lot for your kind reply and giving me hope.
Best wishes for you and your family

REPLY
lida55 | @lida55 | Feb 24 10:15am
In reply to @cartenhopper "When I was first diagnosed with colon cancer, stage 4, my CEA was 111! Now it..." + (show)
@cartenhopper

When I was first diagnosed with colon cancer, stage 4, my CEA was 111! Now it has gone down to 8,0 and fluctuates up and down. My doc said that when the levels get this low it will fluctuate up and down and not to worry. She said they count more on CT scans to determine the cancer status. So don't read into the CEA values too much, unless they are a very high value.

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Thanks a lot for your heartful reply and hope you gave me which i need it a lot
Best wishes for you.
My question is that why this trend is rising although there is some fallings but the whole package is rising.
Like this... 1, 1.1, 2, 1, 2.3, 3, 4, 3.3, 4.3, 4,1, 4.6
How far is it going to rise.one day it will reach 10 or 20 ???????!!!!!!!😥

REPLY
1 reply
roywalton | @roywalton | Feb 24 10:48am
In reply to @lida55 "Thanks a lot for your heartful reply and hope you gave me which i need it..." + (show)
@lida55

Thanks a lot for your heartful reply and hope you gave me which i need it a lot
Best wishes for you.
My question is that why this trend is rising although there is some fallings but the whole package is rising.
Like this... 1, 1.1, 2, 1, 2.3, 3, 4, 3.3, 4.3, 4,1, 4.6
How far is it going to rise.one day it will reach 10 or 20 ???????!!!!!!!😥

Jump to this post

Please understand that with this type of testing (biological antigen) those numbers really do not mean "a change". Biological test values have inherently alot of variability and these "differences" are not significant. CEA is an inexpensive and acceptable early indicator for new cancer, but really isn't very good for surveillance. I would not even think about it until it gets close to 20. Hope that helps.

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