Hike in CEA

[srwl21901]

I have been NED since February 2013 and all follow up blood work and CT scans have been good. The highest CEA has until now has been 4.5. I had a rectal biopsy under general anesthesia in May of this year and the CEA in July is 19.8. My oncologist said it could be due to the surgical biopsy which was negative for cancer but has ordered a CT this week. Has anyone ever had a rise in CEA level after a procedure. I'm not normally a worrier until there is a sure reason to worry but for sure am concerned and anxious.

[michelle c]

Have it re-tested just in case it's a lab error. When did you have a CT scan last? Maybe consider a PET scan if you had a CT recently. All the best to you.

[Pita]

My best wishes to you...

[Jacques]

Possible false positives for elevated CEA
http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=53135&p=419830#p419830

[rp1954]

We been through this many times on the board.
"Benign diseases rarely produce CEA serum levels >10 ug/L."
MSK used 15 for "rare", their CEA lab values apparently are the higher version.
CEA after major surgery is usually back to normal in 2-3 weeks.

We'd tell our doctor(s) we want enough examination and blood tests today to reasonably knock off most items on that list. I've written repeatedly about what markers we use on blood tests. Some of the "extras for baseline" actually address the list. We are not going to be patsies when there is a serious risk. It really shouldn't cost that much on half reasonable lab rates, similar to Medicare prices.

[steiconi]

What part of your body did they CT? My onco kept ordering abdominal CTs when my CEA rose, because "the liver is the most common site for mets."
If he'd ordered at least an Xray of my chest, they might have found the lung tumor a lot sooner. I have a new oncologist now.

[srwl21901]

I had my last CT last June and had another one today but haven't gotten results yet. I hope to tomorrow. I am nervous but hopeful that it is something other than cancer again. They always scan my chest and lower body. Thank you all for your responses.

[michelle c]

I hope your CT went ok.

[srwl21901]

I am a little confused but certainly not complaining. My CT scan was of chest and lower body and showed nothing abnormal. My oncologist said that the rectal biopsy I had in May could have been the cause. I wouldn't have thought so but I did read that in any of the places that CEA levels rise with cancer those same places can cause an increase if they become inflamed as in pancreatitis or gallbladder etc. I will say I had more trouble after that biopsy than when my ostomy was reversed and for a longer period of time. My weight is better when I eat a low carbohydrate diet, however some before but more so after this biopsy in May that diet just does not agree with me. If my diet had anything to do with such a scare, I feel truly foolish but I will have another CEA blood test on the 14th of this month after having changed my diet and see if there is a difference. I'm hoping for a low level but again feel so foolish to have let something as trivial as keeping a few pounds off put myself, my family and my doctor on such high alert. I will post back after the results on the 14th are in. I read lots of posts and try to keep up with folks on this forum but don't post much myself, but hope this may help someone else to not worry until they know there is something to worry about. Hugs to everyone battling this disease.

[zx10guy]

I just dealt with a similar situation as you. Please see my thread here:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=55364

Hopefully, you can get something out of it that will help you.

[srwl21901]

Thanks for sharing that. I went back on the 24th for another blood test and had changed my diet to less low carb hoping if my colon was happier my CEA would be lower but it was 21.4 this time. My doctor isn't concerned as I just had a colonoscopy and the recent CT scan. My sister has a friend whose husband is retired reader of pathology reports and he said in some people any irritation from the organs that raise CEA levels can trigger a rise and that where he is from the doctors don't put all that much stock in CEA it's more just a slight factor. I'm hoping that he is right and am going with that for now. I feel like my oncologist may just order CT scans and blood work a little more often for a while to watch closely in hopes of catching something early should something appear. Thank you all, this board so awesome.

[srwl21901]

Well it's me again, I've been bouncing all over this board tonight. I got PET results tonight and apparently the CEA test is a good marker for me. I show to have cancer in lymph nodes including para aortic nodes which I understand is not good. Is there anyone here who is dealing with the same thing? I'm so full of questions and nervous in what to expect.

[Pita]

So sorry for the outcome of your PET scan srwl Best wishes and prayers for a solution to it all ox

[srwl21901]

Thank you. I don't even know if there is any treatment that would beneficial for me.