This is my first post on this site, I have found it reassuring reading other peoples experiences so I appreciate that.
I just wonder if anyone has experience with high tumor marker levels?
After having constipation for a few months, my doctor had me take a CEA blood test which came back 12, that is in the high range as over 10 is considered high. and when you Google 12 CEA it basically says it indicates a tumor.
I am having a CT Colonography scan tomorrow, I am very anxious about what they will find, and I seem to invent new things to be anxious about - todays is what if there is no tumor detected in the colon, but with a high CEA level there must be a tumor in another part of my body.
I would need to get multiple scans for the rest of my body, I don't know if I can handle the stress.
So I am wondering if anyone has had a similar experience with a high tumor marker that could reassure me?
Hi Dantsouth and a warm welcome to the board. Have you had bowel cancer treatment and this is one of your follow up results? 12 is not overly high and could be caused by something such as an infection or inflammatory bowel disease? Hopefully the colonography today will give an idea as to the cause so try not to let your mind run away with the what ifs until you’ve had this done. You say that you wouldn’t be able to handle the stress of ‘multiple scans for the rest of my body’ but you don’t know that that would be the next step? If, and it is an if at this point, they needed to scan the whole body then something like a PET scan could be used which highlights tumours anywhere in the body? Try to focus on each step of investigation at a time, stay away from google and try not to let your ‘what ifs’ cause your own stress? This might be something and nothing but once you know for certain what (if anything) you’re dealing with then try not to assume the worst.
No, it is not a follow-up treatment, the CT scan is because of constipation and the 12 CEA reading.
You are right about google, I shouldn't have done a search, but the way my brain overthinks I had to do something to try to get more info, had the opposite effect of course.
I realise compared to the brave people on this forum who are fighting for their lives my issue is small, almost insignificant.
But I thought I would ask as a CEA search on here didn't yield many results.
The scan was fine, went pretty quick, I think the worse part was the lead up prep cleaning out the bowels, that was interesting...
Now I'm waiting for results, which I am not good at, I cant help thinking the worse, mainly because of the 12 CEA level, keep thinking there must be something if my CEA is that high.
But that is just my brain, I am alone so can just go into a mental spiral because I've got no one to talk to.
I had a read of your profile, you're an impressive person.
Yes the bowel prep isn’t nice. I’ve always had moviprep which is 2 litres of salty lemon flavoured revolting drink! Hopefully the scan results won’t take too long? A ‘manual’ colonoscopy isn’t great but at least they give you a good idea of what’s going on straight after?
Keep posting if you’re struggling and we’ll try and help or you can ring the support desk on the number below if you want to just talk things through with someone?
