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CEA increasing trend

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 1:29 am
by Nextgen
Hi All my friends,

Good day and wish you well.

I am just wondering if this CEA increasing trend is some alarming signal.

1.4 --> 1.5 --> 2.1 (3 month apart each test)

CEA trend as below:

1-Dec-2011 5.0 Colonoscopy found 20cm, 40cm, 50cm polyps and removed, 70cm found obstructing tumor & 65cm of colon resected by extended right hemicolectomy, lateral margin of 4.0cm away from the tumor
26-Sep-2012 1.9 2.5 month from last Chemo
26-Dec-2012 1.8 3 month from last CEA test
25-Apr-2013 3.2 4 month from last CEA test
19-Jul-2013 2.9 3 month from last CEA
11-Jan-2014 6.4 6 month from last CEA test
2-May-2014 18.6 Pre Op blood test test (Right Hepatectomy)
20-May-2014 4.3 admit small bowel obstruction
11-Jun-2014 3.2 Pre chemo CEA test
27-Feb-2015 2.8 1 month from last chemo
20-May-2015 2.0 3 month from last CEA
9-Sep-2015 2.0 3.5 month from last CEA
1-Dec-2015 1.7 3 month from last CEA
9-Mar-2016 1.9 3 month from last CEA
9-Jun-2016 1.8 3 month from last CEA
3-Aug-2016 1.8 2 month from last CEA
3-Nov-2016 1.4 3 month from last CEA
15-Mar-2017 1.5 4 month from last CEA
14-Jun-2017 2.1 3 month from last CEA


Wish you well.
GBU.

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 1:44 am
by stu
Hi.
Having watched my mum's CEA markers for eight years now, they do bounce around a bit. It trends up for a few readings and just when we think ok that's heading upwards it can suddenly drop down.
Take care ,
Stu

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:46 am
by Deb m
My husbands also jumped around a lot. It was very nerve racking to say the least! Our oncologist told us that the numbers will usually double withing a couple of months if it is cancer. Your increases in numbers are very slight so I wouldn't worry to much at this point. Continue to watch I guess,

deb

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:58 am
by Nextgen
Deb m wrote:My husbands also jumped around a lot. It was very nerve racking to say the least! Our oncologist told us that the numbers will usually double withing a couple of months if it is cancer. Your increases in numbers are very slight so I wouldn't worry to much at this point. Continue to watch I guess,

deb


Thanks deb! We will keep watch! It is encouraging to read your reply.

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 8:00 am
by Nextgen
stu wrote:Hi.
Having watched my mum's CEA markers for eight years now, they do bounce around a bit. It trends up for a few readings and just when we think ok that's heading upwards it can suddenly drop down.
Take care ,
Stu


Thanks Stu!
I just couldn't help with the fear in me!
Thanks for your encouragement ! Gbu n mum!

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 4:01 pm
by Joannerogers
I too worry about my cea since it is a marker for me. Mine is on the upper limit of normal so until the next level is checked I'll be worrying. Can't help it.

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 2:49 pm
by Nextgen
Joannerogers wrote:I too worry about my cea since it is a marker for me. Mine is on the upper limit of normal so until the next level is checked I'll be worrying. Can't help it.


Hi Joanne,

Pray for your clear ct/pet. Thanks for being around, it is encouraging to me.

Gbu

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 3:56 pm
by lpas
I had a similar increase about a year ago, but then it seemed to come back down again (all my readings are in my signature below). Keeping fingers crossed that yours does the same.

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2017 8:46 am
by Nextgen
Hi Ipas,

Thanks for your useful info.
Great that you are doing good so far.
May God continue to bless you with good health !
Btw, you did quite frequent cea test, 19x in 2yrs. My onc is always ask for 3mo cea followup only.

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 6:00 pm
by betsydoglover
Oncologists are taught not to worry about CEA as long as it is in normal range - trend matters but only when it is going up outside of normal range.

Your Mom only has one outside of range CEA - that could be concerning but since the next one was fine, it appears t be just an anomaly. Lab error? Bad day for her? Who knows?

Take care,

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:47 pm
by Nextgen
Hi Betsy,

Thanks for your good advice.
We plan followup CEA in 2 month time.
Pray for us.
GBU

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 6:28 pm
by Nextgen
Hi All,

Mum CEA drop to 1.1
Praises be the Lord. Amen.

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 8:13 pm
by NHMike
betsydoglover wrote:Oncologists are taught not to worry about CEA as long as it is in normal range - trend matters but only when it is going up outside of normal range.

Your Mom only has one outside of range CEA - that could be concerning but since the next one was fine, it appears t be just an anomaly. Lab error? Bad day for her? Who knows?

Take care,


Do you have a link to what values mean and what normal range is?

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:41 pm
by JJH
NHMike wrote:...Do you have a link to what values mean and what normal range is?

The normal range depends on the particular assay or machine used for the test. Your lab report should indicate both the name of the assay/machine and the normal range for it. This might be in small print in a footnote or in small print in the right hand margin.

It is important to know which assay was used because normal ranges for diffrrent assays are different. For example, the Roche assay usually has a higher normal limit than most other assays.

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=54299&p=431407#p431407

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=51836&p=404364#p404364

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=53135&p=419830#p419830

Re: CEA increasing trend

Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:54 pm
by Basil
Interesting. At my dx, I had a CEA at Baylor College of Medicine and it was normal. Three days later I had the test repeated at MDAnderson and it was slightly elevated, 7-8 IIRC. Never got an answer on the difference.