The Colon Club

Just posting as I've had a few people PM me about my CEA, which has remained fairly high and gradually trended up despite being NED on scans.

Started 8.4 at diagnosis; 4.0 after chemo finished; got as high as 5.3 last year.

I am really happy as my most recent CEA test showed a drop for the first time since 2015!

Still sitting above the "normal range limit" of 3.0, but any downward trend makes me feel more confident.

While my doctors can't give definite answers, my suspicion is the CEA has remained high due to a combination of the following:
-ex smoker
-regular weight trainer
-ongoing issues with hernia mesh pain (in 2017 this pain has significantly reduced)

Only other news is my surgical team has agreed to give me another annual CT scan. In my country, they usually stop scanning colon cancer at 3 years NED. I made them agree to a 4th scan which will take place around November / December.

That's all from me - my best wishes to everyone

AWESOME

So happy for you, sounds like a good follow up appointment. Especially the CEA drop.

Good luck with your next scans,

Lee

Thanks Lee
It seems like a minor thing, but that creeping CEA has really eaten away at my brain, so it's a great feeling to see it drop at last.

It made me laugh - at this appointment the registrar didn't even talk about cancer. They seemed more interested in the hernia mesh and pain issues.

Hey Jay

Great news about CEA. I know the feeling with the fluctuating numbers. I had bloodwork yesterday for my six month check next week. My onc always says CEA is just a number and it is the trend she cares about. Told me I spend too much energy fixating on the number. She says that she will tell me when to start worrying. I am curious though how lifting weights can elevate CEA. I am assuming muscle inflammation.

It is always nice when it is going down.

I am singing : It's going down, down, down...

Congratulations!

Jay,

My husbands cea jumped around a lot also, some times above the 3.0 normal range. He has never smoked and is otherwise a pretty healthy guy. I must be a T4 thing? I'm glad that they will do a 4th scan just to be sure. Your well on your way to NEDville forever!

Debbie

My wife's has done the same thing, but her scans have been NED. On the last scan, the onc sent it back for reinterpretation by a second radiologist just to make sure.

He can't explain it, but told her that odds are on her side with the passing time. 4.5 years out from stage 2A.