My Mother Had Colon Cancer 25 Years Ago. It Came Back @ 2 Years Ago Her CEA Test Results Today Were 17 Reading Online About This Score, But Am Finding Little Except That The Cancer May Have Matastisized. Her GFR Is 30 And Only Has Use Of 1 Kidney. She Only Weighs 96 Lbs. Can You Enlighten Me With What You Think About Her Health?

Posted on Tue, 14 Aug 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 14 Aug 2018 Answered on

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : My mother had colon cancer 25 years ago. It came back @ 2 years ago
Her CEA test results today were 17
Reading online about this score, but am finding little except that
the cancer may have matastisized. Her GFR is 30 and only has use of 1 kidney. She only weighs 96 lbs. Can you enlighten me with what you
think about her health

Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
SCAN is needed

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Her CEA level is high which means she has cancer but if it is metastased or not it cannot be said only by this examination.
She need to do a SCAN.
Her GFR is low and shows that she has chronic kidney disease.
The treatment options should be discussed after scan outcome results and depend on localisation and number of masses.
I don't think she can handle much of surgery or chemotherapy because of kidney disease and low body weight.
She may benefit from radiation therapy.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T