Scan next week

So sorry to hear what your going through, waiting is so very hard, my only advice to you as I'm new to this scenario is to try to be kind to yourself, try to keep your mind busy - tell someone your worst scenario that is in your mind (macmillan call was so helpful for me to do this) once I'd shared it I found a little peace of mind, imy mind still goes there but it did help.  Take care of yourself x sending best wishes x 

Hi Fizz

Can I just clarify if I am reading this correctly that you are currently on chemo ? 
CEA is not used as a diagnostic tool as it is too unreliable and many other factors can affect it like inflammation . Roughly 50% of CEA spikes are false and drop back down again so one reading is less of a concern than a few that are trending upwards . Under 5 is classed as normal but CEA can literally head up into the hundreds and sometimes thousands. It’s purely a protein .

Do you know your reading at diagnosis? 
The other aspect you need to consider in the equation chemo itself can cause CEA to rise and is a better tool to use off chemo than on chemo according to some articles . My mum’s CEA went up to 11 during chemo and we were convinced it was disease progression but it was not . In fact her scans showed almost resolution of her spread . The second year it happened again but we were better prepared . 
Not only that twice it has just tracked up to six years after her disease was resolved . Back to scanning and all was clear . It dropped back down itself a few months later .

Having tracked my mum’s CEAs for 12 years I can absolutely assure you they can cause anxiety spikes . But not so reliable .

Your team is absolutely doing the right thing .

It will hopefully give you peace of mind in the long run .

You sound a bit like my mum on chemo though . She had a tough time too .

Hope this has reassured you . 
Court 

Hi Court. Thank you for your reassurance, it was good to hear.  It has made me feel better about it and so much more positive that the scan will be OK.  I have had terrible reaction to the chemo so penty of inflammation to support what you are saying.   Yes only started chemo just before Christmas with a CEA reading of 3.9.  It has jumped to 9.3 but now I realise there may be other reasons.  I hope your mum continues to keep well.

https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21247

This is the link to the research and it only relates to people off chemotherapy and on monitoring but gives you some insight into what can happen .

Take care ,

Court 

https://news.cancerconnect.com/.amp/colon-cancer/understanding-the-cea-test-in-colon-cancer

This one specifically addresses spikes on chemotherapy.

Glad it has given you more insight .

All the best with the scan and treatment .

Take care ,

Court