CEA for lung metastasis

[hany]

I've been reading a lot of posts in the internet that CEA for lung metastasis for rectal cancer is not effective. Does it mean that even the cancer has metastasize to the lungs, the CEA is still within the normal range?

[behconsult]

CEA varies among individuals. For some it is an effective biomarker, for other it is not. Myself, I have never had an abnormal CEA yet had a tumor in my right colon and lung mets. There is another marker that is sometimes used called a CA 19-9. Hope this helps. B

[James65]

I had a normal CEA level (1.5) but a CT scan discovered a MET in my left lung.

[ams5796]

I've had lung mets a few times yet my CEA never went up.


Ann

[Jack&KatiesMommy]

My CEA goes up with even the smallest of lung mets.

[kiwiinoz]

Hi Hany
Sorry you have to be in this situation worrying about your Mum. For some people CEA is an extremely sensitive marker, and for others it is meaningless.
I was diagnosed with 2 rectal tumors and 1 metastasis in my lung, and my CEA was 1.6, which is at the very bottom end of range for a normal person.
Kiwi

[hany]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. My mum have 4 lung nodules and the biggest is 7mm. I'm afraid that these nodules are mets or a new cancer.
I first thought that when a person was diagnosed with early stage, the chance or recurrence and met is minimal, but it seems that im wrong...
Next week, Ill be meeting my mum's onco to discuss the next steps...

[dianetavegia]

Have they done a chest CT? I had 4 lung thingies at dx 8 years and 9 months ago and they are still the same size and pronounced benign. Because your mom's are so small, a PET scan would most probably be a waste of time and money but checking her regularly for a year or so would rule out cancer.

The Fleishner Society is a great place for info.
http://pubs.rsna.org/doi/full/10.1148/radiol.2017161659

[susie0915]

Repeat scans is common practice. My last scan 3yrs after dx showed a small 4mm nodule. Oncologist believes it is scar tissue but I had a repeat scan at 3 months (no change) and I am having another in October. She says it is too small to biopsy and a pet scan probably won't pick it up as it would have to at least double in size. Cancerous nodules tend to grow fast (can double in size in 3-4 months according to doctor). So we will keep monitoring my scans and if no change or reduction in 2 years will probably be determined to be benign.

[hany]

Hi diane, yes mum had her chest ct scan last August which show 4 ground glass lung nodules, (7mm,4mm, 2mm and 2 mm) all in the upper lobe. that was the first time she had a lung scan. Last year and last feb this year, she only had a chest xray and the results are clear. The radiologist told us that those nodules could not be seen in xrays due to the size. I hope and pray that my mum's nodules are benign the same as yours.
Thanks for the info.

[hany]

Hi Susie, thanks for your reply. I will have an appointment with onco on wednesday. Its good to know that yours is only scar tissue. The radiologist also told us that PET wouldn't be so accurate because of the size.