CEA doubled after first treatment

[Wendy]

I just received my CEA reading after my first treatment. It doubled from 73.8 to 143.7. How fast should the reading come down? Should you see an improvement after one treatment? How often should the CEA reading be done - every blood test? I am currently on FULFOX6 and going to add Avastin next treatment.

Wendy

[sue]

Wendy,
Don't panic. CEA readings have been known to go up from the chemo. Some doctors don't even check it during treatment because it flucuates so much. Mine went the highest after my third treatment.
Talk to your doc. Good Luck Sue

[Joy]

My Doc told me that CEA readings are useless during chemo. I really thought that she was giving me "the gears"...glad to hear that she wasn't spinning me a line and that CEA is not a useful tool during chemo.