Is CEA generally checked during adjuvant chemo?

[nomoretacos]

Mine isn't being checked. They said they would start monitoring it after chemo was finished but not during.

Just wanted to hear other peoples experiences

[Deb m]

Yes, ours was checked every 3 months. I can increase just because of the chemo, but it's the trend that is important so having it done during chemo is still helpful. My husbands chemo was considered adjuvant as well.

deb m

[peanut_8]

Mine wasn't checked during adjuvant chemo.

Best Wishes, peanut

[recruiter]

Checked regularly.

Mine was never terribly high, but it's down to 1.0 now.

[Carolinabluetec]

Mine was checked at the beginning of chemo and at the the end. Also during follow up visits. I am now past the two year mark and NED.

[LPL]

Hi nomoretacos,
My DH's markers (CEA & CA 19-9) was checked before & after colon surgery. Then he had 4 Folfox before now planned liver surgery. I asked to have it checked again before this upcoming surgery. It was obviously not something they 'needed'? but they said: OK if you want..
I had read:
"Most expert panels, including the EGTM, currently recommend measurement of CEA in monitoring patients with advanced CRC receiving chemotherapy. "
Reference: Tumor markers in colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and gastrointestinal stromal cancers: European group on tumor markers 2014 guidelines update"
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 28384/full

(We live in Europe)
Kind Regards /LPL

[LeonW]

During chemo my CEA was checked routinely together with the other blood work, the day before the start of each chemo cycle. CEA went up during the first 2 cycles and then started to go down. Oncs saw this as indication that chemo could work and boy were they right. Apparently CEA is a good indicator for me and we continue monitoring it at each check-up. See sig.