Bowel cancer

FormerMember over 5 years ago

2 replies
28 subscribers
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I had bowel cancer 4 years ago. I have been having regular follow u appointments with my surgeon. He keeps telling me my CEA levels are up but can find nothing on scans. I don't know what CEA is. Does it mean I have cancer somewhere else?

I worry because my sister had bowel cancer and died suddenly from a brain tumour just after being discharged from surgical department

FormerMember over 5 years ago

Hello , welcome to the online community, I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis and your sisters, so I can see why you are concerned. I have a different kind of cancer so I didn’t know what CEA was but I found an explanation on the NHS site I will put the link below. It says that the markers can indicate other non cancerous conditions so coupled with the fact your scans aren’t showing anything I would take that as good news. I’m still undergoing treatment for my cancer and have a nurse who is my keyworker she can be contacted if I have any questions that I didn’t ask at my appointments with the consultant so I am hoping that you have something similar. I know sometimes when hit with something unexpected it’s difficult to ask the questions at the time. I hope you will join the bowel cancer group for some support from other patients and there is an ask an expert section where you could also put your question (they can take a few working days to reply as some are medical volunteers who have full time jobs). I hope the links below help.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cea-test/

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer/discussions

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/ask_the_expert/ask_a_nurse/discussions

Best wishes

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Thank you for your reply to my message. It has reassured me somewhat. If only the doctors you see don't explain these things.

Good luck with all of your treatment.

Best wishes Louisb