Postby crikklekay » Tue Apr 27, 2021 9:52 am
The saga continues. CEA is now higher than it was on the initial test, up to 7 from 5.3 (he was around 12-20 when diagnosed, I can't remember the exact number). He has had a CT Scan and a colonoscopy since then, and other than a few polyps removed on the later both came back normal. I don't know what the doctor will recommend, the appointment is this afternoon. The only other value that's off is Albumin which is 3.9; just barely below the low range of normal. The rest of his blood work looks fine. He forgot to fast before the blood draw, but I wouldn't think that would effect CEA.
It's so frustrating, I read that "falsely elevated levels may occur in up to 50% of colon cancer patients post treatment leading to unnecessary anxiety and testing" which means of course I'm hoping and praying he's in the falsely elevated category. But if it is an indication that something is amiss then I want to find it NOW so we can treat ASAP, so possibly unnecessary testing sounds like a small price to pay for potentially finding something sooner.
Caring for DH John
Stage IIIC, Lymph nodes: 6/22
Chemo: FOLFOX (6)
12/17 ER and emergency surgery
02/18 Hospital w/MSSA infected port, PICC line inserted, chest CT scan showed septic emboli & blood clots
03/18 Hospital w/CDIFF
08/18 CT Scan Clear, NEMD
2018/2019/2021 Colonoscopy Clear
2019/2020/2021/2022 CT Scan Clear
2021 PET scan & MRI show one spot on liver
08/21 Liver surgery to remove spot, confirmed mCRC. Now Stage IV
09/21 Start Folfiri + Avastin
03/22 CEA Rise, continuing chemo