tater wrote:On march 3 cea was 26. Mid April before radiation 29 after radiation it dropped to 2.1 and two months after that right before chemo 2.3. Not sure what all that means but that is what it is.
Cancer does not follow a rule book. We try to do everything right, butt cancer can still throw a curve ball. Many times people who have liver mets will see an increase in CEA numbers (again cancer does not follow the rules), butt based on everything I've read from you, I'm not saying there is a met in her liver or not. Butt if it were me, I would want an expert 2nd opinion on those results. My recommendation at a major cancer treatment center.
Your wife is recently diagnosed, but for many people CEA is a good indicator for watching cancer activity. What they are looking for is an upward trend over a period of time, like every 3 months. When I was diagnosed, my CEA was something around 25ish (honestly can't remember exact number). Following my surgery and prior to leaving hospital, it had dropped to 3.5 (that number I do remember). 1/2 threw chemo, it jumped to 7.? , scared me to dead. That was when I learned when cancer cells are dying, they emit this protein. That is what the CEA is picking up. I truly believe chemo was killing off those remaining stray cells in me. After chemo, my numbers dropped back into a normal range and is so today.
Some people can have cancer activity and the CEA never changes. In those cases, CEA is not an good monitor. The fact that your wife had an out or range # when diagnosed (26 &29) then dropped to a normal range (2.1 & 2.3) following radiation is a good sign. For many people when there is liver activity, CEA will go up (again cancer does not follow a rule book), if there is liver activity, CEA did not go up for her.
If it is a liver mets, know that many people have gone on to NED and are very much alive today. I believe you have met a few on this board already. So never give up the hope.
Hope this helps,
Lee