Rise in CEA during chemo. Cause for concern?

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skimom
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2023 12:24 pm
Location: Oregon USA

Rise in CEA during chemo. Cause for concern?

Postby skimom » Fri May 05, 2023 9:28 am

Hello- I so appreciate the knowledge of so many of you on here! If you have any words of wisdom for me on the following, I’d greatly appreciate it!

My CEA started out crazy high (all in my signature) and has come down so far I was determined chemo would continue to shrink tumors. I had to postpone my last treatment of FOLFOX + Avastin (treatment 9) due to low platelets. It was postponed by 1 week and during that week my CEA went from 187 to 240.
Does anyone know if this means cancer is growing that fast?! Treatment 9 was yesterday and was my last one with Avastin as I will only do 1 more instead of my original plan of 12 due to finding a surgeon willing to help me, Thanks be to God!!
Surgeon wants to hold off Avastin due to possible surgery in 4-6 weeks post chemo. My main concern is if CEA went up that much in 1 week what will it do in 4-6??! Will this prohibit a surgery from happening? Or am I just crazy overreacting?

Thanks for taking the time to read this I really do appreciate all of you so much

Blessings to you all

~Sara~
47yo F at DX
DX 12/11/22 Stage IV (liver & lung mets) KRAS PIK3CA
12/15/22 Primary tumor removed from Transverse Colon (4.3x4.0x0.6cm G2 3/15 lymph nodes. Clear margins)
01/06/23 started Folfox (10 cycles)
Initial CEA 5608
CEA after 4 rounds 1319
CEA after 6 rounds 427
CEA after 9 rounds 95
HAI pump installed 06/20/23
Start FOLFIRI and FUDR 07/05/23
CEA down to 37
31
21
18
9/2023 Switch back to FOLFOX due to new lung nodules
11/23 FOLFOX fail CEA up to 62

Nor Cal
Posts: 89
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:18 pm

Re: Rise in CEA during chemo. Cause for concern?

Postby Nor Cal » Sat May 13, 2023 2:14 pm

Not much help as my CEA has never been that high, but mine does jump around quite a bit, just at lower numbers. It's a challenge to read any blood test and not find cause for alarm - I think we're just trained to think that way after the trauma of diagnosis. More important than one test is a trend - so I would push for more frequent CEA testing. Hopefully everything is within parameters and you can proceed with surgery.
Dx June 2020, stage IV, w liver mets in both lobes. M, age 50. Right-sided colon tumor. CEA 120.
BRAF+ TMB 5% MSS TDL1-1%
July 2020 - Present: 55 cycles chemo (All the various 5-FU regimens)
December 2020 - February 2021 Y90 Radioembolization, Chemoembolization x2

skimom
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2023 12:24 pm
Location: Oregon USA

Re: Rise in CEA during chemo. Cause for concern?

Postby skimom » Sat May 13, 2023 2:49 pm

Thank you so much for your insights Nor Cal. I have decided it’s all in God’s hands anyway so I’ll just keep going and enjoying all other aspects of my life. I do have my last treatment this upcoming Thursday and will pray for a lower number this time. No sense stressing myself out over something I cannot control.
47yo F at DX
DX 12/11/22 Stage IV (liver & lung mets) KRAS PIK3CA
12/15/22 Primary tumor removed from Transverse Colon (4.3x4.0x0.6cm G2 3/15 lymph nodes. Clear margins)
01/06/23 started Folfox (10 cycles)
Initial CEA 5608
CEA after 4 rounds 1319
CEA after 6 rounds 427
CEA after 9 rounds 95
HAI pump installed 06/20/23
Start FOLFIRI and FUDR 07/05/23
CEA down to 37
31
21
18
9/2023 Switch back to FOLFOX due to new lung nodules
11/23 FOLFOX fail CEA up to 62

Detox
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2017 5:27 pm

Re: Rise in CEA during chemo. Cause for concern?

Postby Detox » Sat May 20, 2023 1:50 am

My CEA jumped during chemo and then slowly dropped after.

Also my oncologist told me that one or two months don't make much difference during breaks, changing treatment, etc.

Hopefully, the chemo will shrink your tumors to the point of where they can be removed with surgery, that's one curative approach.

Definitely push for surgery to have them resect the liver and lung metastases, if not now, then later.

skimom
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2023 12:24 pm
Location: Oregon USA

Re: Rise in CEA during chemo. Cause for concern?

Postby skimom » Sat May 20, 2023 12:22 pm

Thank you Detox! I had my last treatment Thursday. Heading to cancer center soon to get 5fu pump removed for what is hopefully the last time! Yes I fully agree surgery is best option. I am heading up north next week to get scans done and meet with surgeon. Last time I saw him he said it will depend on scans if they opt for surgery or radiation at this point. Praying so hard it is surgery but honestly just happy and grateful they are willing to do something more because my local oncologist told me palliative chemo only.

Thanks again for the encouragement

Blessings to you,

~Sara~
47yo F at DX
DX 12/11/22 Stage IV (liver & lung mets) KRAS PIK3CA
12/15/22 Primary tumor removed from Transverse Colon (4.3x4.0x0.6cm G2 3/15 lymph nodes. Clear margins)
01/06/23 started Folfox (10 cycles)
Initial CEA 5608
CEA after 4 rounds 1319
CEA after 6 rounds 427
CEA after 9 rounds 95
HAI pump installed 06/20/23
Start FOLFIRI and FUDR 07/05/23
CEA down to 37
31
21
18
9/2023 Switch back to FOLFOX due to new lung nodules
11/23 FOLFOX fail CEA up to 62

User avatar
beach sunrise
Posts: 1034
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:14 pm

Re: Rise in CEA during chemo. Cause for concern?

Postby beach sunrise » Tue May 30, 2023 10:05 pm

Hi skimom, I really hope you are in a spot or very close to have surgery!
Chemo worked very well for you by your signature.
Keep us updated and good luck next week.
8/19 RC CEA 82.6 T3N0M0
5FU/rad 6 wk
IVC 75g 1 1/2 wks before surgery. Continue 2x a week
Surg 1/20 -margins T4bN1a IIIC G2 MSI- 1/20 LN+ LVI+ PNI-
pre cea 24 post 5.9
FOLFOX
7 rds 6-10 CEA 11.4 No more
CEA
7/20 11.1 8.8
8/20 7.8
9/20 8.8, 9, 8.6
10/20 8.1
11/20 8s
12/20 8s-9s
ADAPT++++ chrono
CEA
10/23/22 26.x
12/23/22 22.x
2023
1/5 17.1
1/20 15.9
3/30 14.9
6/12 13.3
8/1 2.1
Nodule RML SUV 1.3 5mm
Rolles 3 of 4 lung nodules cancer
KRAS
Chem-sens test failed Not enough ca cells to test

skimom
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2023 12:24 pm
Location: Oregon USA

Re: Rise in CEA during chemo. Cause for concern?

Postby skimom » Tue May 30, 2023 11:00 pm

Thank you beachsunrise! I am waiting for the tumor board meeting this Thursday to confirm but surgeon has June 20 as the date to install HAI pump and hopefully remove some of the mets. I’ll post an update when I have one. Thanks much for checking in on me :)

Prayers up for your surgery!!! I’ve been reading all of your posts and can’t wait to hear the success you have in Germany!
47yo F at DX
DX 12/11/22 Stage IV (liver & lung mets) KRAS PIK3CA
12/15/22 Primary tumor removed from Transverse Colon (4.3x4.0x0.6cm G2 3/15 lymph nodes. Clear margins)
01/06/23 started Folfox (10 cycles)
Initial CEA 5608
CEA after 4 rounds 1319
CEA after 6 rounds 427
CEA after 9 rounds 95
HAI pump installed 06/20/23
Start FOLFIRI and FUDR 07/05/23
CEA down to 37
31
21
18
9/2023 Switch back to FOLFOX due to new lung nodules
11/23 FOLFOX fail CEA up to 62


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