Just a quick back ground. My wife was DX on 3/3/17 with large tumor in rectum and iliac node. At that time her CEA was 26. She had the classic signs of cancer and also had tail bone pain which is due to the size and location of the tumor in rectum. Prior to radiation her CEA went to 29. After 30 session of radiation it drop down to 2.1. She rested for two months prior to surgery, but the week before the surgery a CAT found three 5mm spots on the liver which are called suspicious. Surgery was cancelled and we went to chemo. At that time the CEA went to 2.9. Now after 4 rounds of FOLFOX + avistian the CEA has stuck up to 3.1. We have a CAT scheduled in October after two more rounds of chemo. This week she has noticed a dull pain back in her tail bone. Naturally we are worried that the tumor is growing. It had shrunk more than 50% after radiation. The ONC thinks that the pain is from the shots to boost the WBC, but with the CEA edging up we are both worried. I am curious what peoples thoughts are? I have read that CEA naturally can increase while on chemo is that true? What does it measure, cancer cell growth proteins or dead cancer cell proteins/stuff?
If we can get a clean liver scan in October we will go to surgery and clean out the pelvic region than back to chemo for four months than look at liver resection of the right lobe area that had these tiny spots on it.
Thanks for your responses.