CEA test

[JDinNC]

I never really thought about this...but how often should you have your CEA tested. My next one is in Dec. just before my next CT scan. My last one was before my last PET scan in July. I haven't personally seen my oncologist since maybe around June because he's retiring at the end of this year and he's always on vacation. Wouldn't you normally have one done between your scans to be sure your CEA hasn't risen any. And if so, they can take quicker actions?

[Nik Colon]

Idk what's standard, but that seems like a long time between. I would have to check mine. I know I just had another one done recently.

1/15/15 - 4.9
3/11/15 - 3.2
3/26/15 - 2.9

I know I have had at least 3 after that

1.2 after surgery 6/15
4.6 after starting folfiri 7/15
3.6 on last one 9/15

[DarknessEmbraced]

I have my CEA and CA 125 checked every 3 months.

[Joannerogers]

Since I'm still undergoing treatment I have mine done monthly.

[rp1954]

Sounds like your dr has already checked out, I'd be shopping and interviewing. "... can [they] take quicker actions?" Yes - the real question is can you - we always have to advocate for ourselves.

Blood tests may not catch everything but the current "standards" (NCCN, ASCO, etc) are not well designed to protect attentive stage 4s in the zone between first NED and five years out. A CEA test is not very thorough coverage nor is even quarterly likely to be timely for a fast developing problem. Scheduled scan images are usually quarters behind what is possible with frequent biomarkers, trended. A large percent will recur sometime, and need timely treatment to either resolve it, while curative surgery is possible, or to yield the maximum chances and time. Biological and chemical tweaking also becomes possible.

Suppose you knew for absolute sure that you would recur at some random time in those 3-4 years, as most still do. What could you do? What would you do if you were a multimillionaire with a finger prick cancer test?

Multiple kinds of markers, blood taken and results accumulated weekly, reviewed bi/monthly by an expert analyst would be pretty protective. Few of the "oh-my-god" surprises we see and there would be better options. The limitations are the tests themselves, the physical limitations of sampling, personal psychology, economics and the expertise.
In the near future, it may be possible to drop by Walgreenmart, and get your finger/elbow stuck for a few drops and get 10-20 panels. I'd be willing to do that weekly, maybe 10 days, and have it automatically swept into my spreadsheet. Even now, with the current sanguineous blood draws and a budget, we've found 2-6 weeks doable. Second, is that most people have a lot of scatter in their data due to inflammation, (cancer) metabolism or lab test methods. This scatter can reduced and minimized in the NED period and with some treatments, but is a medically unaddressed/underserved area.
Psychologically, it would be best if the patient didn't have to see every high frequency test asap, but rather had a brief consult monthly, bimonthly or even quarterly that scored or reviewed a matrix of several accumulated tests that yielded more graded information and certainty, and some minor chemical recommendations.
Finally, the big sticker is expertise. Some medical papers are slowly admiting that various biomarker trends are very sensitive and predictive, useful in practice. Multiple markers in skillful combination is even further behind. However our doctors mostly seem to be ignorant or asleep on these subjects, and the national payers, HMOs, insurance companies or their stooge doctors would probably attack them if they weren't. We probably need a results oriented (inter)national colorectal subscriber service to do this.

Even today, given the costs of belated treatment, the economics should not be a barrier for monthly draws. Our system is just not arranged efficently and effectively for us.

FYI, we watch for problems, including liver, with CEA, (AFP or CA19-9, one frequent, one qtrly), ALP, GGT, LDH, adjusted and quality controlled with hsCRP and ESR, "monthly" (4-6 wks) in good times. If we had LEF prices available, we'd do quantitative D-dimer more often, at 4-9 week intervals.

[jhocno197]

My husband's was being checked every two weeks. I don't know what they'll do now, though, since they've stopped his chemo.

[Lee]

I was a stage IIIC. For the first 3 yrs, I saw my Onc every 3 months, and had CEA done just prior to seeing Onc. I would get scans every 6 months. After 3 yrs, saw my Onc 2X yearly with no scans but 2X a year CEA test. When I had to switch Onc, I was getting yearly CEA and sometimes scan till the 10 yr mark. On this past visit, 11 yrs out, Onc announced I was cured and would not be testing me for CRC anymore. I will continue to see her because I'm an ex smoker and she will monitor my lungs, my choice.

Lee

[dianetavegia]

Mine is always done after my MRI/ CT scan when I go for results, so every 6 months. Sometimes I have to beg for months to know the results, other times it's 3 or four weeks.

[ANDRETEXAS]

At my request, I have all my blood work and CEA tested every six weeks. My blood work is posted online two days afterward, and I go by and pick up a copy of my CT results the next day or two days after it is done.