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What Does CEA Drop From 9.8 To 8 Mean?
Question: What can a cea drop from 9.8 to 8 mean for someone with colon cancer?
Brief Answer:
Not significant
Detailed Answer:
this is a very small drop and is does not have much significance. It would mean to me as a doctor that there is no worsening of the disease.
this test is helpful to monitor colon cancer after treatment. the test is usually elevated when the cancer is detected, and should come down to normal (less than 3) six weeks after treatment, to consider a patient "cured" or in remission
let me know if that answers your question
Not significant
Detailed Answer:
this is a very small drop and is does not have much significance. It would mean to me as a doctor that there is no worsening of the disease.
this test is helpful to monitor colon cancer after treatment. the test is usually elevated when the cancer is detected, and should come down to normal (less than 3) six weeks after treatment, to consider a patient "cured" or in remission
let me know if that answers your question
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thx
Usually for a single liver met they can do surgery . My dad's liver met is 16 mm on edge of liver and 1 met in the aortocaval node .
Why are they planning on doing systemic chemo and then re scan in 8 weeks ?
I
Thought this would be ablated or surgically removed ?
Usually for a single liver met they can do surgery . My dad's liver met is 16 mm on edge of liver and 1 met in the aortocaval node .
Why are they planning on doing systemic chemo and then re scan in 8 weeks ?
I
Thought this would be ablated or surgically removed ?
Brief Answer:
improves survival
Detailed Answer:
giving systemic chemo is indicated when there are metastasis. The fact that a small liver met was seen plus a lymph node, means that the disease is spread, and there is probably more disease spreading microscopically (that can't be picked up on imaging studies). Therefore giving chemotherapy to kill as many microscopic cells as possible is indicated, improving overall survival time.
Doing surgery right away won't necessary help, since this can actually potentially spread further the tumor (there is always some bleeding during surgery, and this can spread malignant cells everywhere if there is metastatic disease).
After chemotherapy then attempts to remove tumor and mets can be done, however this should be assessed individually, depending on the location of the metastasis. The fact that it is on the edge of the liver is good. And the lymph node can potentially be resected.
improves survival
Detailed Answer:
giving systemic chemo is indicated when there are metastasis. The fact that a small liver met was seen plus a lymph node, means that the disease is spread, and there is probably more disease spreading microscopically (that can't be picked up on imaging studies). Therefore giving chemotherapy to kill as many microscopic cells as possible is indicated, improving overall survival time.
Doing surgery right away won't necessary help, since this can actually potentially spread further the tumor (there is always some bleeding during surgery, and this can spread malignant cells everywhere if there is metastatic disease).
After chemotherapy then attempts to remove tumor and mets can be done, however this should be assessed individually, depending on the location of the metastasis. The fact that it is on the edge of the liver is good. And the lymph node can potentially be resected.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I think that what his dr sald that main to try kill the micro cells first and the chemo
May even kill the met and node .
I keep
Thinking that as they are doing chemo first he is in curable ?
May even kill the met and node .
I keep
Thinking that as they are doing chemo first he is in curable ?
Brief Answer:
not incurable
Detailed Answer:
There are many things to consider, and there is no absolute way to treat colon cancer with metastasis. Things that are considered are location of the cancer (rectum vs location in the appendix vs rest of colon), coexisting medical problems, size and location of metastasis, type of cells on biopsies (histology), if there is vascular invasion of the tumor into the nearby vessels, etc.
Generally chemoradiation is given before surgery for rectal cancers, on the other hand cancers elsewhere in the colon usually first undergo surgery and then chemotherapy. This is in general terms.
Up to 50% of patients can be cured with surgery for removal of colon cancer and metastasis
not incurable
Detailed Answer:
There are many things to consider, and there is no absolute way to treat colon cancer with metastasis. Things that are considered are location of the cancer (rectum vs location in the appendix vs rest of colon), coexisting medical problems, size and location of metastasis, type of cells on biopsies (histology), if there is vascular invasion of the tumor into the nearby vessels, etc.
Generally chemoradiation is given before surgery for rectal cancers, on the other hand cancers elsewhere in the colon usually first undergo surgery and then chemotherapy. This is in general terms.
Up to 50% of patients can be cured with surgery for removal of colon cancer and metastasis
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
His colon tumor was removed in march he was stage 3 and then underwent xeloda but 11 weeks after , as he was not sure he wanted chemo .
On 4 th cycle cea was slightly rising so scan was done and xeloda stopped .
He has not had chemo 8 weeks but fact that cea has dropped a bit despite no chemo
Is that a good sign ?
In the pet scan the liver lesion had a uptake of 5.2 , is that very high ?
On 4 th cycle cea was slightly rising so scan was done and xeloda stopped .
He has not had chemo 8 weeks but fact that cea has dropped a bit despite no chemo
Is that a good sign ?
In the pet scan the liver lesion had a uptake of 5.2 , is that very high ?
Brief Answer:
good sign
Detailed Answer:
the fact that the cea has remained stable despite no chemotherapy is a good sign.
On a PET/CT scan, any nodule or tumor with an uptake above 2.5 is concerning, and could represent active cancer.
good sign
Detailed Answer:
the fact that the cea has remained stable despite no chemotherapy is a good sign.
On a PET/CT scan, any nodule or tumor with an uptake above 2.5 is concerning, and could represent active cancer.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
With mets would the cea keep rising ?
The thing is 2 lesions were found . Both 16 mm but only 1 had a uptake of 5.2. The other did not have an uptake .
Could the other lesion have been a met that has now been killed with the xeloda ? Both were new findings
The thing is 2 lesions were found . Both 16 mm but only 1 had a uptake of 5.2. The other did not have an uptake .
Could the other lesion have been a met that has now been killed with the xeloda ? Both were new findings
Brief Answer:
its possible
Detailed Answer:
the CEA usually goes up if there is progression of disease, but this laboratory test is never a 100%. The fact that there is one lesion with uptake on PET/CT is concerning for an active metastasis. It is possible that the second lesion is not active, and was actually "killed" with chemotherapy. The recommendations would be to continue therapy if your father is up for it, and follow up the lesion size on imaging tests in the near future, as well as the CEA.
its possible
Detailed Answer:
the CEA usually goes up if there is progression of disease, but this laboratory test is never a 100%. The fact that there is one lesion with uptake on PET/CT is concerning for an active metastasis. It is possible that the second lesion is not active, and was actually "killed" with chemotherapy. The recommendations would be to continue therapy if your father is up for it, and follow up the lesion size on imaging tests in the near future, as well as the CEA.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The size of the met is only 16 mm n the node is 10 mm. Could it be that rather than size they are first trying to target the micro cells in the body ?
He did tolerate xeloda very well . But should he not tolerate folfori and decudes to not have it, will this b too risky ?
He did tolerate xeloda very well . But should he not tolerate folfori and decudes to not have it, will this b too risky ?
Brief Answer:
No
Detailed Answer:
the target are the metastatic cells, which are noted in both the liver and the node, but could also be elsewhere in the body - undetected by imaging studies. Chemotherapy can be very toxic with side effects. If he tolerated Xeloda well, then your dad should talk with the oncologist in order to get further treatment. Folfori can have side effects, and it can be attempted after he understands the potential side effects of the medication
No
Detailed Answer:
the target are the metastatic cells, which are noted in both the liver and the node, but could also be elsewhere in the body - undetected by imaging studies. Chemotherapy can be very toxic with side effects. If he tolerated Xeloda well, then your dad should talk with the oncologist in order to get further treatment. Folfori can have side effects, and it can be attempted after he understands the potential side effects of the medication
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Yea that's was they said they want to try target the microscopic cells
First then see as pointless doing surgery first .
If he refuses chemo after he's tries it due to toxity then this can be risky right as more
Cells can develop ?
Are there other options ?
First then see as pointless doing surgery first .
If he refuses chemo after he's tries it due to toxity then this can be risky right as more
Cells can develop ?
Are there other options ?
Also the uptake of the 2nd liver lesion is 2.4?
Brief Answer:
Yes
Detailed Answer:
there are chances of cells to develop if chemo is stopped. Chemotherapy is the best option here. It is a matter of concern that 2nd liver lesion also has an uptake on PET scan. Continue the therapy and follow up the lesion size on imaging tests in the near future, as well as the CEA.
Yes
Detailed Answer:
there are chances of cells to develop if chemo is stopped. Chemotherapy is the best option here. It is a matter of concern that 2nd liver lesion also has an uptake on PET scan. Continue the therapy and follow up the lesion size on imaging tests in the near future, as well as the CEA.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thx
The aortocaval node which contains the met is 10 mm. Is this large ?
The aortocaval node which contains the met is 10 mm. Is this large ?
Brief Answer:
The lymph node is not large
Detailed Answer:
The size of lymphnode 10mm is not large.
Still I would request you to take the opinion of an oncologist. You may post an AAS query to oncologist.
Regards”
The lymph node is not large
Detailed Answer:
The size of lymphnode 10mm is not large.
Still I would request you to take the opinion of an oncologist. You may post an AAS query to oncologist.
Regards”
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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