Rising CEA - What would you do?

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heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby heiders33 » Wed Nov 06, 2019 3:16 pm

Update: It turns out that it might be a recurrence at the original site (anastomosis). I know people here have experienced this before, but I'm wondering what options you were presented. I have a MRI on Sunday to confirm and a meeting with the surgeon next Thursday. I am also having an MRI of the liver because there was slight uptake there, although she thinks that's just inflammation.

Also, it's baffling that this supposed mass wasn't seen in my most recent colonoscopy. I know my surgical site is tricky and they had to perform a partial colonoscopy, endoscopy, and CT colonography in order to see the whole colon. So perhaps between the three they couldn't see clearly right at the site?
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby NHMike » Wed Nov 06, 2019 3:26 pm

heiders33 wrote:Update: It turns out that it might be a recurrence at the original site (anastomosis). I know people here have experienced this before, but I'm wondering what options you were presented. I have a MRI on Sunday to confirm and a meeting with the surgeon next Thursday. I am also having an MRI of the liver because there was slight uptake there, although she thinks that's just inflammation.

Also, it's baffling that this supposed mass wasn't seen in my most recent colonoscopy. I know my surgical site is tricky and they had to perform a partial colonoscopy, endoscopy, and CT colonography in order to see the whole colon. So perhaps between the three they couldn't see clearly right at the site?


What's the size of what they found? I don't know what the connection looks like but it's a surgical connection so maybe it normally looks pretty bumpy.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

radnyc
Posts: 446
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:32 pm

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby radnyc » Wed Nov 06, 2019 3:46 pm

Sorry to hear this, but, if it is, then it’d be better if it’s at the original site, a colon resection is much more effective and less complex than a hepatectomy and it’d mean that it hasn’t spread. Recurrences at the original site mostly occur within the first three years. Stay strong.
DX Jan 2010, at age 47
Feb - colon resection - 2/17 nodes positive
April - liver mets - Stage 4
3 months Folfox chemotherapy
August '10 liver resection and HAI pump
7 months chemo FUDR HAI and Folfiri systemic
NED since August 2010
Last treatment April 2011
HAI Pump removed Dec 2015

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby heiders33 » Wed Nov 06, 2019 5:11 pm

The original site is actually the recto-sigmoid area, and it's very scar-tissued due to radiation. Not sure how easy it will be to surgically remove.

@NHMike, they don't know the size because it was a PET scan and it only shows uptake. I think she said the uptake was a bit higher than my PET a year ago, but I can't remember.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby heiders33 » Wed Nov 06, 2019 5:43 pm

And now I’m looking at my CEA - 9.8! And my LDH is 437! It was 168 three weeks ago.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

claudine
Posts: 809
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 2:41 pm
Location: Montana

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby claudine » Thu Nov 07, 2019 11:07 am

From the studies I've been able to read online that mention CEA increase, it seems that a slower, more regular increase tends to be associated with a local recurrence, whereas a sudden fast rise is more likely to be metastatic spread. Your rise definitely fits the first type of response more, which would be consistent with a recurrence at the original site. Lesser of two evils I guess!
Wife of Dx 04/18 (51 yo). MSS, KRAS G12A, no primary

Tumors: L4 04/18; left adrenal gland & small lung nodules 03/19
rectum 02/22 (pT3 pN0 stage 2A); L3 09/22

Surgeries: intestinal resect. 05/18 (no cancer - Crohn's); adrenalectomy 02/20
L3-L4-L5 fusion and corpectomy 05/20; LAR 04/22; ileo reversal 09/22
L2-L3 fusion and corpectomy 09/22

Treatments: EBRT 04/18; SBRT 02/19; Failed adjuvant Xelox ; Folfiri/Avastin 03/19 - 01/20
adjuvant chemorad (Xeloda) 06/22; SBRT 11/22; Xeloda/Avastin since 01/24

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby heiders33 » Thu Nov 07, 2019 12:46 pm

Very interesting, then that could be what it is. Of course I had radiation before my LAR, which is supposed to reduce the chance of local recurrence - but I seem to always beat the odds on those things! I also had clear margins. Oh well, cancer sucks.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

claudine
Posts: 809
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 2:41 pm
Location: Montana

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby claudine » Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:09 pm

No doubt about that :(
Hopefully your upcoming MRI can provide answers, one way or another. The uncertainty is very hard to live with...
Wife of Dx 04/18 (51 yo). MSS, KRAS G12A, no primary

Tumors: L4 04/18; left adrenal gland & small lung nodules 03/19
rectum 02/22 (pT3 pN0 stage 2A); L3 09/22

Surgeries: intestinal resect. 05/18 (no cancer - Crohn's); adrenalectomy 02/20
L3-L4-L5 fusion and corpectomy 05/20; LAR 04/22; ileo reversal 09/22
L2-L3 fusion and corpectomy 09/22

Treatments: EBRT 04/18; SBRT 02/19; Failed adjuvant Xelox ; Folfiri/Avastin 03/19 - 01/20
adjuvant chemorad (Xeloda) 06/22; SBRT 11/22; Xeloda/Avastin since 01/24

zx10guy
Posts: 233
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 12:54 pm

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby zx10guy » Thu Nov 07, 2019 2:02 pm

heiders33 wrote:The original site is actually the recto-sigmoid area, and it's very scar-tissued due to radiation. Not sure how easy it will be to surgically remove.

@NHMike, they don't know the size because it was a PET scan and it only shows uptake. I think she said the uptake was a bit higher than my PET a year ago, but I can't remember.


Do you have the actual radiology report? If not, you need to get it. It'll tell you what the uptake value is of that spot called SUV. If you don't have the previous PET report, I would also get that too.

The common guidance is to always get copies of your scan images on CD to take with you. You should also ask for those. Per my other thread about my CEA situation, I was able to calm myself a little while waiting for the experts to review my scan images by looking at the images myself on CD. Once someone points out what you're looking at with a PET image and what is a bad/suspicious spot, it's very easy for a lay person to do a gross examination of the images to see something wrong. The CDs I get from the scanning facility includes all the software you need to load up the images. Using a mouse makes it easy to scroll through the image slices. Any spot on the scan, I can click on it and the software will tell me the SUV of that location. Since I have copies of pretty much all the scans I had done since being diagnosed, I was able to put my recent PET scan images next to the last one I had done in 2017 to see if there were any differences. This is also what radiologists will do when reviewing your scan. If you use the same facility for all of your scans, it will be easy for them to make comparisons. If you are starting anew with this facility, it is always a good idea to provide them with your scans from the previous facility for them to do a comparison. I stopped using the scanning facilities associated with my local hospital when I switched oncologists. Since the new facility had no previous scans for me, at my first a scan appointment, I brought CDs of my previous scans for the admin to load up into their system so the radiologist could use them for a comparison.

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby heiders33 » Thu Nov 07, 2019 4:16 pm

zx10guy wrote:Do you have the actual radiology report? If not, you need to get it. It'll tell you what the uptake value is of that spot called SUV. If you don't have the previous PET report, I would also get that too.


Yes, I have the actual report. I 'm not brave enough to look at the actual scans though. When I switched to MSK, I gave them copies of CD's of all my most recent scans - this was a requirement. My new scans are in their system along with old. Yesterday she checked my previous PET scan right on the spot. The uptake in this "soft tissue mass" was 8.6, up from 2.5 on the prior scan. There was also an SUV of 5.3 around the ileocecal valve in my most recent scan.

At MSK they have better scan machines than the place I went to previously. She said that my previous PET scan was a bad image.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

zx10guy
Posts: 233
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 12:54 pm

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby zx10guy » Thu Nov 07, 2019 4:40 pm

heiders33 wrote:
zx10guy wrote:Do you have the actual radiology report? If not, you need to get it. It'll tell you what the uptake value is of that spot called SUV. If you don't have the previous PET report, I would also get that too.


Yes, I have the actual report. I 'm not brave enough to look at the actual scans though. When I switched to MSK, I gave them copies of CD's of all my most recent scans - this was a requirement. My new scans are in their system along with old. Yesterday she checked my previous PET scan right on the spot. The uptake in this "soft tissue mass" was 8.6, up from 2.5 on the prior scan. There was also an SUV of 5.3 around the ileocecal valve in my most recent scan.

At MSK they have better scan machines than the place I went to previously. She said that my previous PET scan was a bad image.


Did your GI doctor note the anastomosis area being inflamed or unusual looking? There is a possibility the soft tissue mass is on the outer part of your colon/rectum area where a colonoscopy won't see it.

It's not easy to say this and I'm not a doctor. But the increase of SUV from 2.5 to 8.6 is pretty significant. The number of 8.6 by itself is significant. I'm hoping it's residual from the radiation or some sort of inflammation type situation. But something is going on at the location for sure.

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby heiders33 » Thu Nov 07, 2019 5:28 pm

No, it wasn't noted in any of my previous colonoscopies that I am aware of.

Yes, I see now that it's a significant increase. I have no doubt it's a local recurrence, just need to confirm it with the MRI. It seem so unfair because honestly that's the last place I expected it to recur - I did radiation and I had clear margins after my LAR. But this cancer won't give up. :evil:
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby heiders33 » Thu Nov 14, 2019 8:51 pm

It turns out I was right. There was a 5-7% chance that I would have a local recurrence in my rectum, and I am officially in that group. I have a small tumor, right at the anastomosis, where I had my low anterior resection two years ago. Dr. Paty is recommending targeted SBRT therapy since the tumor is in the presacral area between the rectum and the sacrum. He does not recommend surgery because it's in a tricky spot. He says there is a high chance of cure with this treatment. There is a risk of a fistula, but I will know more when the tumor board meets on Monday - Dr. Kingham, Dr. Paty, Dr. Kemeny, and Dr. Chris Crane. They will discuss this recurrence as well as my liver MRI, which looked okay to Dr. Paty, but the two Dr. K's will take a closer look since they are the experts.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

AmyG
Posts: 371
Joined: Tue Dec 25, 2018 8:08 pm

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby AmyG » Fri Nov 15, 2019 2:27 pm

Sorry to hear about the reoccurrence, but it sounds like you're in good hands!!
42 dx @ 9wks pregnant w/baby #8 8/18
Sigmoid colon resection 9/18
Adenocarcinoma, G2, T3N0M0..or so we thought
KRAS/BRAF wild
Liver biopsy is malignant, stage iv now boys!
Delivered healthy baby 3/19
FOLFOX + Avastin 5/19
CEA 167 to 24 after 4 rounds
Liver resection 8/28/19
NED!! CEA 2.3
CEA 5.8 idk wtf is up with that, but everything else is clear!
CEA 3.7 make up your damn mind...
CEA 1.5 that's a new low!

montezuma
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2020 1:45 pm

Re: Rising CEA - What would you do?

Postby montezuma » Mon Apr 03, 2023 3:44 pm

Is there an update on how your treatment went? How is it possible you can do SBRT when you already had 28 days of chemorad? I thought we normally receive the maximum allowed radiation at where the anastomosis is located. I’m in a similar situation, but surgery has been the only option on the table.
DX 45 yrs old
12/19 CEA 1.8
1/7/20 Stage IIIA RCa, T3N1. 5.8cm from AV
5.8cm AV, 3mm beyond rectal wall, 2 involved mesorectal lymph nodes
neoadjuvant:
1/19 - 5/19 chemo - XELODA, FOLFOX - 8 rounds
5/19 - 6/19 radiation w/ Capecitabine
9/20 EUS Pathology, 6-7cm from AV
Residual moderately differentiated rectal adenocarcinoma
11/3/20 LAR, TME
Results: 11/5/21, 1 out of 12 lymph nodes positive
12/20-1/21 chemo -XELODA, FOLFOX - 4 rounds
2/21 resection & port removal
3/23 CEA 10.8
4/23 MRI new tumor


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