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How Often Should My CEA Be Tested?

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 3:23 am
by testing765
Hi. I saw my oncologist for a quarterly follow up recently. He switched me from quarterly follow ups to semi-annual follow ups. These follow ups include recording vitals, physical exam and review of blood work including CEA. I had surgery in 9/14 and I finished folfox chemotherapy toward the end of 3/15. My CEA has been within the normal range since it was first recorded in 9/14.

So I am now at two years since I completed chemotherapy. I just wanted to know whether a switch to semi-annual oncologist follow ups is considered medical standard of care based on my factual circumstances. Part of me feels positive that my oncologist is confident enough in my condition to expand the timing of my follow up visits but another part of me is concerned that I may miss a sign of a problem (ie. elevated CEA) as soon as possible. So is the expanded time between testing of my CEA appropriate at this juncture? Thank you for your insight.

Re: How Often Should My CEA Be Tested?

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 3:41 am
by Jacques
testing765 wrote:Hi. I saw my oncologist for a quarterly follow up recently. He switched me from quarterly follow ups to semi-annual follow ups. These follow ups include recording vitals, physical exam and review of blood work including CEA. I had surgery in 9/14 and I finished folfox chemotherapy toward the end of 3/15. My CEA has been within the normal range since it was first recorded in 9/14.

So I am now at two years since I completed chemotherapy. I just wanted to know whether a switch to semi-annual oncologist follow ups is considered medical standard of care based on my factual circumstances. Part of me feels positive that my oncologist is confident enough in my condition to expand the timing of my follow up visits but another part of me is concerned that I may miss a sign of a problem (ie. elevated CEA) as soon as possible. So is the expanded time between testing of my CEA appropriate at this juncture? Thank you for your insight.

There are several members here who think that a more frequent testing of CEA and the use of additional biomarkers is a better way to go than just blindly following the "medical standard".

Here is one post, for example:
http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=52174&p=408261#p408261

Re: How Often Should My CEA Be Tested?

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 9:11 am
by jhocno197
It seems like CEA may not be a good marker for you, anyway. I would not rely on CEA testing to try to catch a recurrence.

Re: How Often Should My CEA Be Tested?

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 7:17 pm
by Thetoad
I was 3 monthly CEA to begin but now 6 monthly with yearly consultations. I am a worrier though and my Dr allows a CEA test if I can't wait the 6 months. It takes the anxiety away.

Re: How Often Should My CEA Be Tested?

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 4:40 am
by Jacques
testing765 wrote:... I just wanted to know whether a switch to semi-annual oncologist follow ups is considered medical standard of care based on my factual circumstances...

According to the ASCO 2009 guidelines for Stage III followup, the standard is to have quarterly follow-ups for the first three years after the Date of Surgery (DOS), and then semi-annual followups during the fourth and fifth years post surgery.

You can see the standard by downloading and viewing the ASCO followup form. If your date of surgery was 9/2014, then your three years of quarterly followups would end in 9/2017. According to the standard, then, you should be having another 3-month followup in June and a final one in Septermber. Beginning in September, the followups would be every 6 months for the next two years (year 4 and year 5).

COLON CANCER FOLLOW – UP SHEET
http://www.asco.org/sites/default/files/fillable_colon_survivorship_plan_v3_102009.doc

I am not saying that you should follow this standard. I am just giving information about what ASCO says their standard is.