Good morning.....My husband will start his first treatment of Capox for mid-rectal bowel cancer stage 3 today. I've been trying to get a CEA test done for him before treatment starts to check if his cancer type shows up - apparently, not all bowel cancers show with the CEA Test.. I've read that if his cancer type shows up with a CEA test, a recurrence is more likely to show in CEA tests later. We were quite happy to pay privately if not available on the NHS, but diagnosis to treatment has happened too quickly to get it done. I asked our GP practice, but they say it should be done through the Oncologist. I left a message with the colorectal team nurses, but no-one got back and I've since learned that the oncology team that carry out treatment said they are not doing the CEA testing due to expense. Private facilities are too far from our location and I don't want to take my husband far from home during treatment. I'm a bit disappointed as it would be an additional (though not totally reliable) way of keeping an eye on things in the future. I know that there is standard surveillance by way of scans and colonoscopy after treatment for cancer, but my husbands grandfather died of bowel cancer and it would be good to get private blood checks 2 or 3 times per year for reassurance. We are not yet sure whether or not he has a genetic predisposition towards getting bowel cancer, a CEA test would have been another layer of reassurance. Any ideas please.
Thank you Court for both your replies (also to my introduction message)
I only recently found out about the CEA test and it's relevance. two weeks ago, I left a message with the colorectal team asking if they did it routinely, they didn't reply. Knowing we were meeting the onoclogy nurse for a pre-treatment screen, I thought I would ask at this appt, but they said it's too expensive and they only deal with the most important issue - the cancer. I considered a private test from the beginning, but wasn't sure if it was done automatically during all the NHS routine investigations. I've tried BlueCrest, they have closed our nearest centre to carry out Covid related screenings leaving north London as the next option. I contact A1 in Ashford, they only see patients registered with their consultants. After 2 months of waiting for confirmed diagnosis, it was quite a runaround of tests and telephone calls, so only a short time to get a private CEA test before chemo starts today. I found a few places privately, but didn't want to take my husband into London so close to chemo start date, in case he picked up covid or anything else.
I have also used private blood screening, it's a great ad-on to the NHS which is stretched. Like you, I took a Covid anitbody test as I got it in early March last year - also positive!
I'm going to have a word with our GP cancer nurse as my husband routinely has a very sensitive stomach (frequently on the loo, lots of acid) and a recurrence could easily be masked by his usual sensitivities. His grandfather had it at the same age, 63, so hubby might have a higher risk of getting it again.
Thanks again for your help, I can see why you are a Community Champion 
My mum gets all her CEA s done at the GP even if you try and explain you are only looking to establish a baseline !
T_21 no mark up with the private sector then !
. I did not realise its so inexpensive! Seems silly to cost cut when it you could potentially catch something at a surgical level rather than potentially years of experience chemo !
Court
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