CEA markers high

Hello AnnelieL,

My husband is on FOLFOX and Nivolumab. His 6th cycle starts on Wednesday. We don't know what a CEA value is. Sorry. 

I hope there is nothing sinister and that treatment your Dad is having is doing its job.

Best wishes,

Lorraine

Hello Lorraine,

We are based in Sweden and here we have a laboratory test called s-CEA that measures cancer activity.CEA stands for carcino embryonal antigen and it is often present on tumor cells. Hightened values could be that cancer cells are dying (pseudo progress) or that the cancer is growing (progress). We hold our thumbs that my fathers raised values are due to cancer cells dying but are afraid that it may be the other alternative.

I thank you for your kind words and hope that your husbands cancer responds well to his treatment. Do your oncologist use any blood sample to see results of treatment? Or do he/she rely on CT scans?

Best wishes,

Annelie

Hello Annelie. Thank you for explaining CEA. I think blood must be checked but the oncologist only tells us about the CT scan results. As my husband is in a clinical trial his bloods are checked for many things. 

Staying hopeful for everyone going through treatment xxx

Hi AnnelieL

I'm sorry that this is such an anxious time for you.

Whenever my oncologist requests bloods I have a carcinoembryonic antigen level test which is not specific to a particular cancer type as I understand it, more of a general marker. My levels were slightly raised six months ago but at the last test they were back within the normal range. 

I hope you get some reassurance from the oncologist soon.

Best wishes 

Mutti