CEA Jump

[SweetC80]

I've been following this board since my mother was diagnosed last December with stage 3 (T3N1b) rectal cancer (she also had 9 non cancerous non resectable polyps in her colon). She had chemoradiation with little response and in May removal of her whole colon, rectum, anus, full hysterectomy and bum reconstruction then started FOLOX a couple months ago. Last week they put her chemo on hold because her pre chemo blood work showed her CEA jumped from 4.4 to 197 since June and they are waiting to do a CT scan to see whats going on and if they need to change her plan. I was wondering is it possible that Chemo can cause your CEA to jump w/o growth or spreading of cancer or other benign reasons for such a large jump (probably wishful thinking)? What is the difference between PET and CT scan?

Thank you.

[JJH]

... I was wondering is it possible that Chemo can cause your CEA to jump w/o growth or spreading of cancer...

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58729&p=462556#p462556

[SweetC80]

... I was wondering is it possible that Chemo can cause your CEA to jump w/o growth or spreading of cancer...

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58729&p=462556#p462556

Thank you for responding. I did read through that thread and some others similar, but seemed that the increase in CEA due to cancer cells dying was usually only slight. I guess there is no way for us to know until her CT scan.

[Achilles Torn]

There are some older threads where this is discussed in more detail...but if my memory serves it was mentioned that even large jumps can be caused by FolFox. This just means that although she certainly should have a scan to investigate it may not be that bad.

AT

[Lee]

When did she start chemo, how many infusions?

When I left the hospital following my surgery, my CEA was 3.5. Six months later while on chemo, my CEA jumped to 7.5. I was 1/2 way through chemo. I was scared, surgeon said not to worry, sometimes this happens because the CEA is picking of the proteins from the dying cancer cells. After chemo, it did drop back to normal.

Hopefully that is the case with your mother. Butt it is best that they do a scan to make sure. Has she ever had a PET scan done? If not, might be something to consider.

Lee

[SweetC80]

When did she start chemo, how many infusions?

When I left the hospital following my surgery, my CEA was 3.5. Six months later while on chemo, my CEA jumped to 7.5. I was 1/2 way through chemo. I was scared, surgeon said not to worry, sometimes this happens because the CEA is picking of the proteins from the dying cancer cells. After chemo, it did drop back to normal.

Hopefully that is the case with your mother. Butt it is best that they do a scan to make sure. Has she ever had a PET scan done? If not, might be something to consider.

Lee

She's has 2 rounds. Only CT scans, no PET scans that's why I don't know the difference and when/why one is used over the other.

We are starting to wonder if there is a mix up of meds too, she hasn't had Chemo in 3 weeks yet she is so weak she is collapsing daily when doing almost anything and needs carried to bed. Even if she does have cancer growth it shouldn't be to the point she would be this immobile. There has to be something off. We are borderline taking her to a skilled nursing home. She's 69, but my step dad is 82 and laid up with urgent need for a hip replacement.

[Lee]

She's has 2 rounds. Only CT scans, no PET scans that's why I don't know the difference and when/why one is used over the other.

We are starting to wonder if there is a mix up of meds too, she hasn't had Chemo in 3 weeks yet she is so weak she is collapsing daily when doing almost anything and needs carried to bed. Even if she does have cancer growth it shouldn't be to the point she would be this immobile. There has to be something off. We are borderline taking her to a skilled nursing home. She's 69, but my step dad is 82 and laid up with urgent need for a hip replacement.

A PET scan is better at picking up cancer activity.

Something is wrong if your mom is very weak. And it may or may not be cancer related. Are her doctors saying anything? If possible, maybe a 2nd opinion is in order. Yes if she is on medicine, make sure she is getting the right medicine.

Good luck, let us know what her CT scans shows,

Lee

[SweetC80]

CT scan showed 4cm tumor in her liver and multiple pulmonary lymph nods infected. Suggestion is to switch to the chemo Irinotecan. Given the fact the tumor growth was so much since her last scan 6 months ago and during Chemo before and currently the Oncologist didn't seem to offer much positive news.

We have a follow up appointment in a week with the Oncologist (today he just came to the chemo treatment room to pull my mom aside to review the scans) and we'll discuss more in detail what's up and what we can do or expect. Given what he saw on the scans he isn't surprised by her weakness. Her protein and weight are still good so we are concentrating on her nutrition. She has RA and up until this point was not allowed more than a minimal dose of prednisone, but today the Oncologist said she should take whatever she needed. Hopefully that helps. She has a feeding tube but doesn't use it much because it makes her sick.

ETA: I was asked why she was not put on Avastin. Her Oncologist said it wasn't an option at this time because she still has an open wound from her surgery. We are looking into second opinions.

[DarknessEmbraced]

I'm sorry it wasn't better news!