CEA rise and inconclusive scan

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Canada777
Posts: 62
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2016 6:24 pm

CEA rise and inconclusive scan

Postby Canada777 » Sun Mar 26, 2017 11:44 am

I'm trying to stay calm and not get ahead of myself but it can be hard some days. Bf had HIPEC and all was successful with surgery. A month after surgery CEA was 4.9 and he had a CT. Three months later another CT and CEA went up to 6.0. We were told all areas that showed something on the first CT had shrunk or disappeared by the second CT so they were probably just scar tissue....but one area looks the same. No change at all. Onc can't confirm or deny if it's scar tissue or cancer back already. The surgeon said a lot of time was spent scraping that area during surgery (but very confident all cancer was removed).

We were told to wait and another scan in 2 months to compare. Anyone ever had CEA jump a point in three months and then go back down? I don't like that it's over 5. He's had chrons for many years so maybe higher CEA is more normal for him? I'm trying to convince myself it's good news the one area on the CT looks the same. Can scar tissue take more than 4 months to heal?
DH dx. Stage 4 Colon cancer with Peri mets Dec '15 @ age 29
12 Rounds FOLFOX & then successful HIPEC in 2016. Diagnosis changed to appendix cancer.
Recurrence to pelvis 9 months later.
Years of chemo.
At rest. Sept 2021.

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: CEA rise and inconclusive scan

Postby Lee » Sun Mar 26, 2017 2:15 pm

Is there any way he could get a PET scan? Since he has Crohn's disease, not sure if CEA is a good way to monitor him.

Good luck,

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

User avatar
ANDRETEXAS
Posts: 661
Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2014 11:01 am
Location: Austin, Texas (University of Tennessee alumnus)

Re: CEA rise and inconclusive scan

Postby ANDRETEXAS » Sun Mar 26, 2017 11:41 pm

I agree with Lee....ask for a PET scan.
2/10/14 - Colon resect
2/13 - DX- Stage IIIb
6 of 18 lymph nodes cancerous
3/7 - Port placed
3/11 - FOLFOX (12 rds w/full oxi)
8/14 - Chemo finish
8/25 - CT- Inc
9/5 - clean PET
12/10- clean CT

3/2/15 - Clean colonoscopy & port removed
3/4 - clean CT
9/21- clean CT

3/23/16 - clean CT

2/22/17- clean CT

3/21/18 - clean CT
4/1 - clean colonoscopy

3/11/19 - clean CT
9/23 - Five-year release - Annual visits now !

4/13/23 - clean colonoscopy

ONE DAY AT A TIME !

Deb m
Posts: 558
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:08 am

Re: CEA rise and inconclusive scan

Postby Deb m » Mon Mar 27, 2017 8:32 am

On one occasion, my husbands cea jumped from 3.6 to 5.7 over a three month span. Our oncologist at MDA ordered a Pet scan the same day and nothing showed. On our next three month check his cea went back down to 3. He's been ned for a little over 6 years now and we never did find the reason for the jump. He usually bounced around from 2.4 to 3.2, but the 5.7 was the biggest jump and a break from the pattern. As far as scar tissue, I think sometimes it can even grow? Maybe somebody with more knowledge on that can respond.

Wishing you the best,

deb

radnyc
Posts: 446
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:32 pm

Re: CEA rise and inconclusive scan

Postby radnyc » Mon Mar 27, 2017 9:08 am

Hi there, I posted this 3 years ago. CEA is not a clear market for a lot of people. Sometimes it goes up, and then goes down. The key thing is a consistent increase over several readings. Pl ase read the info in link.

"http://meetinglibrary.asco.org/content/122986-143

Conclusion: "False positive CEAs in the 5-15 range are relatively common."


Al"
DX Jan 2010, at age 47
Feb - colon resection - 2/17 nodes positive
April - liver mets - Stage 4
3 months Folfox chemotherapy
August '10 liver resection and HAI pump
7 months chemo FUDR HAI and Folfiri systemic
NED since August 2010
Last treatment April 2011
HAI Pump removed Dec 2015

Canada777
Posts: 62
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2016 6:24 pm

Re: CEA rise and inconclusive scan

Postby Canada777 » Tue Mar 28, 2017 10:05 am

Thanks for the replies. I did ask about a PET scan and there is only one reason we were told we could get one in Canada - I forget the explanation - but I think it's allowed only if the CT keeps coming back inconclusive and CEA stays elevated.

Deb and radnyc thanks for the story and article ..I'm hoping it's just a false positive!
DH dx. Stage 4 Colon cancer with Peri mets Dec '15 @ age 29
12 Rounds FOLFOX & then successful HIPEC in 2016. Diagnosis changed to appendix cancer.
Recurrence to pelvis 9 months later.
Years of chemo.
At rest. Sept 2021.


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