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Is A CEA Reading Of 3 Normal After Colon Cancer?

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Posted on Wed, 18 Jun 2014
Question: Is a cea reading of 3 normal after colon cancer surgery ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
detailed below

Detailed Answer:
Hello.

Thank you for the query.

CEA is used to monitore patients after colon cancer surgery. Every person has different level of it. Tgat is why it should be done after a surgery and repeated every 3 months. Every other result needs to be compared with the previous result.
So if your last cea was similar to this result, no need to worry. However if your previous cea level was much lower, you should consult oncologist.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 hours later)
I think this is the first cea test he has done.

Would u advise a pet scan now as surgery was 26 march?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
.

Detailed Answer:
If you have had chemo and it is over now, PET is a good idea. If you still have chemo, wait till the end of therapy.
If there was no need to give chemo (stage I and II), PET should be done.
CEA 3 as a first result is not a high level, however hard to tell not knowing how high it was before.

Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (7 minutes later)
No chemo started yet. He is due to start the tablet form soon. Last ct of abdomen n pelvus was april but should we check for reoccurence?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
.

Detailed Answer:
It is too early to check for recurrence. Moreover CEA 3 is not elevated. Why is he waiting so long for chemo? What does his histopathology report say (which TNM stage?)
I suggest him to recheck CEA in next two weeks and see how it is acting. If it rises, CT is a good idea. Moreover if he havent had complete colonoscopy (so the whole part of intestine was not checked), this test should be done right now. He needs to start chemo as soon as possible.

Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (21 minutes later)
He wasnt sure re chemi but gas now decided yes.

He will try the chemo tablets

Yea will def check the cea again.

But he is a smoker so will cea be elevated in smokers?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
.

Detailed Answer:
Yes, CEA is about 1 point higher in smokers.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (26 hours later)
Woul there be no point in a scan now then ? Last ct chest was january and last abdomen pelvis april?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
.

Detailed Answer:
This cancer grows really slowly. Guidelines say that CT should be done every 12 months. So it is pointless to have it right now.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 minutes later)
The actual tumor is removed along with the nodes but im thinking more of the hidden cells that form tumors in other parts.

Hidden cells will have escaped frim the tumor n must b lurking around the body right with a c1?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 minute later)
Brief Answer:
.

Detailed Answer:
Yes, it is possible. That is why he should get chemo as soon as possible. PET scan can be done after chemo to localize single cells.

Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 days later)
Would it not be worth doing a pet scan now then before chemo just to check for mets?

Is pet scan better than ct?

Can he have immunotherapy n is it available?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (17 hours later)
Brief Answer:
.

Detailed Answer:
It is not necessary right now. Either way he needs to get chemo.
PET scan is much better than Ct as it can detect single cancerous cells.
Immunotherapy is still in clinical trials. It is not used as a standard.

Regards.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5796 Questions

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Is A CEA Reading Of 3 Normal After Colon Cancer?

Brief Answer: detailed below Detailed Answer: Hello. Thank you for the query. CEA is used to monitore patients after colon cancer surgery. Every person has different level of it. Tgat is why it should be done after a surgery and repeated every 3 months. Every other result needs to be compared with the previous result. So if your last cea was similar to this result, no need to worry. However if your previous cea level was much lower, you should consult oncologist. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards