Thank you so much Frances... Subsequently why I said that I don't like to post here anymore.

thank you Christine.... Very much appreciated.

Thank you very much Jens22

Diane- I asked and they said there wasn't one taken. Maybe it's not standard at this hospital?
Soccer- No and my concern is of a couple of increases in a row.
Ed- thank you very much for the information!

Congratulations Brenda! Curious- did they take your port out (or wait... You might not have had one?? Maybe you got the pill form?)

Thanks Fletch and CRguy... These are being taken during her chemo approximately every two weeks or so. The last two increases were within a little over a month time period. That's why we were concerned. I guess we'll see if it goes up again next time. (One of the docs said it could mean that cancer ...

I am so sorry for your loss.

My sister's resection surgery was March 30. There was no CEA recorded prior to surgery. They started recording her CEA on April 17th. It has been recorded roughly every two weeks or so and it's as follows. 3.4 (first record) 2.6 3.0 3.3 (most recent) Is there cause for concern with this trend? Also....

I'm sorry and wish you the best. You might be surprised at what can happen though. Hang in and take it day to day.... Easier said than done I know. Praying for you.

Thanks.

Thanks Rick! I get it now!

Ok. thank you MissM.. makes sense.

Kathryn- If your doctor didn't know if you were Stage IV or not then why didn't he put in the Avastin anyways? You'd think he'd lean towards cautionary measures.

During this time, the drugs are interfering with the reproduction of NEW cancer cells, but they aren't really 'killing' anything. HUH? So any cancer cells that planted themselves in the body by way of lymph nodes or bloodstream are not getting killed? My sister had a PET scan that showed a small li...

What is the reason is to use radiation to shrink a tumor and THEN surgically remove it? Why does a tumor need shrinking first? Also- why do some people get half of their chemo regimen BEFORE they have surgery and the rest after? Also- why do some people's chemo regimens, with seemingly same stage as...