What Causes Rise In CEA When Suffering From Colon Cancer

Posted on Mon, 6 Oct 2014

Question: Rise in cea each month . My father had Colon cancer surgery in March . However since may the numbers are going up - these are :

May 3 XXXXXXX 4
July 6
August 8

We are v worried

Answered by Dr. Meher Lakshmi Konatam (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
PET CT whole body required

Detailed Answer:
Since the CEA levels are rising he needs to get investigated.
He needs to get PET CT whole body done. If this is normal he needs colonoscopy also. If both are normal , CEA value can be ignored

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Meher Lakshmi Konatam (27 minutes later)

Can a rise of 8 indicate mets ?

Answered by Dr. Meher Lakshmi Konatam (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
no

Detailed Answer:
Actually CEA value doesnt predict underlying cancer. Since there is a rising trend, he needs to get investigated. Remember colon cancer can occur even with normal CEA level.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Meher Lakshmi Konatam (2 hours later)

We have ct report it said 1 aerotical lymph
Node 10 mm and no peritoneal fluid in colon.

Says appearances are keeping in line with disease progression .

No spread or tumors

Answered by Dr. Meher Lakshmi Konatam (43 hours later)

Brief Answer:
needs treatment

Detailed Answer:
If the scan findings are definitive of disease recurrence , he definitely needs treatment. Please consult a qualified medical oncologist for plan of therapy.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Meher Lakshmi Konatam (4 hours later)

Apparantly the ct report says 1 new lesion in Liver of 1.5 cm. what can this be?

Answered by Dr. Meher Lakshmi Konatam (20 hours later)

Brief Answer:
possibility of metastatic lesion present

Detailed Answer:
Radiologist can exactly qualify what the lesion in liver is depending on radiological characteristics. If the lesion is contrast enhancing and has appeared newly, there is strong possibility of disease spread to liver and needs to be treated.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Meher Lakshmi Konatam (6 hours later)

It says new peripheral 15 mm low attenuation area ?
Contrast was used .

If it was benign or cysts then
They could tell
Right ?

Answered by Dr. Meher Lakshmi Konatam (2 days later)

Brief Answer:
Radiologist can explain

Detailed Answer:
Radiologist can exactly qualify the type of lesion, regarding cysts could be differentiated by radiological characteristics.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Meher Lakshmi Konatam (2 days later)

As the ct scan detected a 15 mm lesion , the oncologist now wNts to do a pet scan .

The radiologist on the report stayed appearances keeping with fussed progression , so why would they want a pet scan and his onco said they don't know what it is ?

From the appearance can they not tell if it's a met or cyst etc?

Answered by Dr. Meher Lakshmi Konatam (2 days later)

Brief Answer:
PET or FNAC When in doubt

Detailed Answer:
If the CT findings are not very much conclusive of metastasis PET can be done. But final answer will be given by FNAC from the lesion if the lesion accessible and large enough for needle test. Ask your doctor if he would recommend FNAC

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

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju