CEA and 5FU

[natelaugh]

Hi,

My dad CEA went from 2.8 to 8 ng/mL after this first 5FU cycle, that is close to 3x increase. Is it suppose to go down? Should we be concerned?

Pre surgery 2/13/19 CEA is 68
Post surgery 3/28/19 CEA is 2.8

First 5Fu cycle 4/16/19
After First 5FU cycle 4/28/19 CEA is 8

Thanks,
Nate.

[claudine]

Hi Natelaugh,
When we saw the oncologist after my husband's first Folfiri treatment, he told us not to be concerned if CEA levels didn't go down or even kept going up for a while. I also read that "dying tumors" can cause CEA levels to go up. So I wouldn't be too concerned about it at this point.
Good luck to your dad with his treatment!

Claudine

[NHMike]

It’s hard not to be concerned. Mine rose steadily through chemo from surgery and the doctor ordered a scan which was clean at the end of treatment. It turned out to be caused by exercise. I put together a steps chart and it correlated with CEA.

The Doctor said that it’s a concern in the upper teens but he wasn’t too concerned when it was in single digits. You and your doctor will watch it. You can’t help not to. But as far as it rising on chemo, yes, many have reported that happening.