CEA levels after chemo for large bowel cancer

FormerMember over 4 years ago

6 replies
126 subscribers
3154 views

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone has any advice. My Cancer marker blood test has come back elevated. It is 5 now, before the chemo it was 4. I was a bit shocked as the nurse said it should usually go down. She asked me if I smoked. I never have done but live above a heavy smoker and have another family who all smoke next door. I live in a flat.

I am quite concerned now in case I have another tumour in my bowel or somewhere else. I have to have a CT scan sometime after June.

Thank you

Kareno62 over 4 years ago

Hi .

Im sorry to hear that you’re concerned and hopefully the scan will put your mind at rest. There are a few things that can raise your CEA level - smoking, chemo, an infection and an increase of 1 is not usually something that they would worry about - it would tend to go up by 5 or 10 for example if there was a problem.

There used to be a really good booklet on the Bowel Cancer UK site about CEA and follow up anxieties but it’s not there anymore however 1 of the nurses copy and pasted it into a thread a while ago so if you click on the link below and scroll down to the comment by Sarah (Staff) hopefully that will help?

community.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/.../13425-raised-cea

Take care

Karen XX

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

Stwhitm over 4 years ago in reply to Kareno62

Morning Louloubelle64

My CEA readings fluctuate between 4 -6, neither 'my surgeon ' nor my wife, also a Dr, are in the slightest concerned by this; some produce constant levels, alot don't. I understand your fears but hope this helps allays them a little.

YNWA ( Great image of the team 'taking a knee for 'BLM')

Mike

court over 4 years ago in reply to Stwhitm

Hi ,

One research project followed 728 patients with an elevated CEA and 49% of them were false positives .

It has happened to my mum and she had two clear scans . Six months later it went back down !

Take care ,

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

FormerMember over 4 years ago in reply to Kareno62

Many thanks Karen,

That's very reassuring. I will have a look at the link soon. I hope you are coping with everything at the moment.

Best wishes

Louise X x

FormerMember over 4 years ago in reply to Stwhitm

Good afternoon Mike,

That is very good news. I am probably worrying unnecessarily. Hopefully it will all be fine.

FormerMember over 4 years ago in reply to court

Hi Court,

Thanks for the reply. Yes I am sure it will go down. The good news is the team will be following me up for the next five years.

Have a CT scan and colonoscopy to look forward to when they can be done safely.

At least it will be a trip out somewhere!