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What Does Raised CEA Level Indicate?
Question: What can a cea level increase from
3 in may to 4 in XXXXXXX mean in a colon cancer patient who has had surgery and was stage 3?
3 in may to 4 in XXXXXXX mean in a colon cancer patient who has had surgery and was stage 3?
Brief Answer:
It is in normal range.Don't worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concerns.
I feel really sorry for this serious health problem your father is facing.
CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) is a protein that is usually present only at very low levels in the blood of healthy adults.
The serum levels of CEA are raised in some types of cancer,including colorectal cancer and for this reason it can be used as a tumor marker in clinical tests.
In colorectal cancer , CEA level is abnormally high before surgery or other treatment, it is expected to fall to normal following successful surgery to remove all of the cancer.
A rising CEA level indicates progression or recurrence of the cancer.
In healthy people the level of CEA is blood (normal range) is less than 5 ng/ml.
In your father case ,you don't need to worry because CEA is not high,it is in normal range.
I don't know if your father is undergone additional therapy after surgery (Chemotherapy or Radiation).
If yes,it can explain the increase of CEA from 3 to 4 in one month because chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause a temporary rise in CEA due to the death of tumor cells and release of CEA into the blood stream.
But again this increase of CEA doesn't have any significance because it is to low and in normal range.
You don't need to worry.Seems that everything is going well with your father after the surgery.
CEA levels should be monitored every 2 to 3 months so don't worry right now, the next test after 2 months will give a more clear idea about the tendency of CEA level.
Hope my answer has helped.
If you have any further question,please feel free to write me back,I will e happy to help.
Wish your father a long healthy life.
Regards.
Dr.Rovena Murati
It is in normal range.Don't worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concerns.
I feel really sorry for this serious health problem your father is facing.
CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) is a protein that is usually present only at very low levels in the blood of healthy adults.
The serum levels of CEA are raised in some types of cancer,including colorectal cancer and for this reason it can be used as a tumor marker in clinical tests.
In colorectal cancer , CEA level is abnormally high before surgery or other treatment, it is expected to fall to normal following successful surgery to remove all of the cancer.
A rising CEA level indicates progression or recurrence of the cancer.
In healthy people the level of CEA is blood (normal range) is less than 5 ng/ml.
In your father case ,you don't need to worry because CEA is not high,it is in normal range.
I don't know if your father is undergone additional therapy after surgery (Chemotherapy or Radiation).
If yes,it can explain the increase of CEA from 3 to 4 in one month because chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause a temporary rise in CEA due to the death of tumor cells and release of CEA into the blood stream.
But again this increase of CEA doesn't have any significance because it is to low and in normal range.
You don't need to worry.Seems that everything is going well with your father after the surgery.
CEA levels should be monitored every 2 to 3 months so don't worry right now, the next test after 2 months will give a more clear idea about the tendency of CEA level.
Hope my answer has helped.
If you have any further question,please feel free to write me back,I will e happy to help.
Wish your father a long healthy life.
Regards.
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
He had surgery in march and has just started chemo monday as he was refusing before.so he has started late. He didnt wnt chemo but we convinced him.
Brief Answer:
A good decision!
Detailed Answer:
Hello again dear!
I am glad you reach to convince your father to follow the doctor directions and start chemotherapy.
Surgery followed by chemotherapy has proven to be much more effective than surgery alone in treating colorectal cancer.
As I said you don't need to worry right now for the slightly increase of CEA.
Further monitoring of CEA level will give an idea about the effectiveness of the treatment and later for monitoring the chance of recurrence.
I wish good luck to your father.
If you have any further question,please do not hesitate writing me.
Best Regards.
Dr.Rovena Murati
A good decision!
Detailed Answer:
Hello again dear!
I am glad you reach to convince your father to follow the doctor directions and start chemotherapy.
Surgery followed by chemotherapy has proven to be much more effective than surgery alone in treating colorectal cancer.
As I said you don't need to worry right now for the slightly increase of CEA.
Further monitoring of CEA level will give an idea about the effectiveness of the treatment and later for monitoring the chance of recurrence.
I wish good luck to your father.
If you have any further question,please do not hesitate writing me.
Best Regards.
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
There is no guarantee is theye that chemo will kill any camcer cells? Hes started oral tablets.
He was a stage 3. Would he have cells still in the body? Would a pet scan be good to do to check?
He was a stage 3. Would he have cells still in the body? Would a pet scan be good to do to check?
Brief Answer:
Yes ,there is guarantee that chemo will work.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
We can't tell for sure that after the surgery every single cancerous cell in his body has been removed ,even more since he had stage 3 of colorectel cancer (what means that the cancer was spread to the lymph nodes near the primary site but has not metastasized to distant sites).
Chemotherapy following surgery makes sure to kill the cancerous cells which has not been removed from surgery.
Surgery (partial colectomy) followed by adjuvant chemo is the standard treatment for this stage.
After the full course of chemotherapy ,his treating doctor will decide if a Pet scan is necessary.
Pet scan is indicated if there is a significant increase of CEA,abnormal findings on conventional imaging, and distinguishing local recurrence from posttreatment changes.
So right now there is no need for Pet scan.
Hope it answered your query.
Regards!
Dr.Rovena Murati
Yes ,there is guarantee that chemo will work.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
We can't tell for sure that after the surgery every single cancerous cell in his body has been removed ,even more since he had stage 3 of colorectel cancer (what means that the cancer was spread to the lymph nodes near the primary site but has not metastasized to distant sites).
Chemotherapy following surgery makes sure to kill the cancerous cells which has not been removed from surgery.
Surgery (partial colectomy) followed by adjuvant chemo is the standard treatment for this stage.
After the full course of chemotherapy ,his treating doctor will decide if a Pet scan is necessary.
Pet scan is indicated if there is a significant increase of CEA,abnormal findings on conventional imaging, and distinguishing local recurrence from posttreatment changes.
So right now there is no need for Pet scan.
Hope it answered your query.
Regards!
Dr.Rovena Murati
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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