slowly increasing cea - what comes next?

[midlifemom]

Well, about 2 months ago my cea was 1.8.
Ct scan showed a few tiny spots in my lungs - New. Both Kemeny and my local onc said too tiny and too soon to determine what it is. Radiology report said "probably inflammation". My CEA that week went to 2.9. Next cea was 2.5.
Today cea is at 3.6.
I'm already scheduled for next Ct in 3weeks with Kemeny appointment following week. I have been doing treatments at local onc since my alk phos level has been too high to get fudr in pump. That level has also been increasing.

Should I try to get ct scan moved earlier?
Any thoughts? Folks with similar scenarios?

Last ct showed my liver was clear and one affected lymph node. Which has been relatively stable.

I guess I'm just looking for what might be happening next.

Thanks all.

[CM35]

When NED and on chemo, my CEA kind of bounces around in about the same range you are showing... Neither dr k., nor my local onc, thought it was any cause for concern as I was having clean scans. Both doctors said that chemo can affect the reliability of CEA, and when it is fluctuating by such small increments, makes the results even more difficult to interpret. Scans are the gold standard for catching disease progression, and dr k scans on an aggressive schedule. Hopefully it's nothing, but definitely put a call in, if it will ease your mind...

[Nik Colon]

Since the spots are unknown and too small to really do anything but watch I would think 3 weeks should be fine. If things don't get better or growing then maybe talk about other chemo or options. The small ones are usually a watch and wait thing so try not to worry for now. But of course talk about possible changes if necessary.

[midlifemom]

Thanks for the replies.

It's funny how I can tell others that CEA can fluctuate while on chemo, BUTT when it happens to me, I panic and logic flies out the window.

[hart2hart]

Sounds normal to me.....Your next scan will tell if things are stable. If Dr K isn't worried, I wouldn't be.
In my husbands case ---Local CEA is 1.5, last reading at Sloan was 11.2. So we are worried.....Huge difference.
Dr K thinks it's a Sloan error ---- Hopefully so! We will find out next week when Pete sees the Dr on July 8th!




Julie and Pete
Stamford, CT