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Suggest Treatment For Polyps In The Colon Area
Question: Hi,
My father 75 has developed multiple polyps in his colon in large no. Doctors operated and removed entire colon in Oct '2015 and chemo was given up to March 16 in 6 cycles. His stoma closing operation was done in Maa 2016. Since then periodical CBP & CEA tests were carried out and everything is normal
But, in January Tests His CEA levels gone up to 6.2.Doctors advised him to under go again CEA test in that hospital, then results was 10.2 (with in 10 days). Then he under went for CT scan-results was normal, then he was asked to under go PET CT-result was normal and nothing abnormal was found.
Oncologist just said nothing to worry with CEA levels finally and just asked us to go for all blood tests again after 3 months. Patient did not complain any problems.
Can any one suggest what would be the next steps. Is that CEA raise is alarming situation.
Please advise
I have all the report right from the diagnosis by physician, 2nd opinion, again surgeon reports,Discharge reports etc., in between CBPs,CEA, Ultrasound colonoscopy, CT scans,PET scans etc.
Do let me know, I will upload
My father 75 has developed multiple polyps in his colon in large no. Doctors operated and removed entire colon in Oct '2015 and chemo was given up to March 16 in 6 cycles. His stoma closing operation was done in Maa 2016. Since then periodical CBP & CEA tests were carried out and everything is normal
But, in January Tests His CEA levels gone up to 6.2.Doctors advised him to under go again CEA test in that hospital, then results was 10.2 (with in 10 days). Then he under went for CT scan-results was normal, then he was asked to under go PET CT-result was normal and nothing abnormal was found.
Oncologist just said nothing to worry with CEA levels finally and just asked us to go for all blood tests again after 3 months. Patient did not complain any problems.
Can any one suggest what would be the next steps. Is that CEA raise is alarming situation.
Please advise
I have all the report right from the diagnosis by physician, 2nd opinion, again surgeon reports,Discharge reports etc., in between CBPs,CEA, Ultrasound colonoscopy, CT scans,PET scans etc.
Do let me know, I will upload
Brief Answer:
Raised CEA alone is not sufficient evidence of rcurrence.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query about your Father.
Noted the history well and seen the reports.
I can understand the concerns raised by increased CEA levels.
As per the reports from the established centers working in Cancers following is the excerpt: Please go through this and follow the advise of your Doctors as clinical evaluation is as important as the reports, in fact more important.
Limitations of CEA:
*CEA is not an effective screening test for hidden (occult) cancer since early tumors may not cause significant blood elevations. Also, many tumors never cause an abnormal blood level, even in advanced disease. Because there is variability between results obtained between laboratories, the same laboratory should do repeat testing when monitoring a patient with cancer.
** While worrisome, changes in CEA are not diagnostic of cancer progression on their own.
*** 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. Changing levels of CEA during cancer treatment must always be correlated with other clinical findings
* There are many benign conditions that can increase CEA, like smoking and some other benign conditions of the liver, pancreas.
* This must be confirmed , as the CEA test by itself is not specific enough to substantiate a recurrence of a cancer.
All this reference is not to say that there is no recurrence but CT and Pet CT are normal as are other tests. Hence regular follow up with the Onco team is the only way to know whether there is a recurrence or not.
I hope this answer helps you.
Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Raised CEA alone is not sufficient evidence of rcurrence.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query about your Father.
Noted the history well and seen the reports.
I can understand the concerns raised by increased CEA levels.
As per the reports from the established centers working in Cancers following is the excerpt: Please go through this and follow the advise of your Doctors as clinical evaluation is as important as the reports, in fact more important.
Limitations of CEA:
*CEA is not an effective screening test for hidden (occult) cancer since early tumors may not cause significant blood elevations. Also, many tumors never cause an abnormal blood level, even in advanced disease. Because there is variability between results obtained between laboratories, the same laboratory should do repeat testing when monitoring a patient with cancer.
** While worrisome, changes in CEA are not diagnostic of cancer progression on their own.
*** 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. Changing levels of CEA during cancer treatment must always be correlated with other clinical findings
* There are many benign conditions that can increase CEA, like smoking and some other benign conditions of the liver, pancreas.
* This must be confirmed , as the CEA test by itself is not specific enough to substantiate a recurrence of a cancer.
All this reference is not to say that there is no recurrence but CT and Pet CT are normal as are other tests. Hence regular follow up with the Onco team is the only way to know whether there is a recurrence or not.
I hope this answer helps you.
Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks doctor,
Just now got the recent report and his CEA levels shoot up to 40
Please advise.
all these CT pet CT & ultrasonic sound tests (Radio active testes) also raise CEA?
He has under went all these test in span ot 4 to 5 days in the month of XXXXXXX 3rd week?
Just now got the recent report and his CEA levels shoot up to 40
Please advise.
all these CT pet CT & ultrasonic sound tests (Radio active testes) also raise CEA?
He has under went all these test in span ot 4 to 5 days in the month of XXXXXXX 3rd week?
Brief Answer:
CEA of 40 is too high.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, this is alarming.
There is no reference about CT , Pet CT and Ultrasound raising the CEA levels.
And that too were conducted in 3rd weeks of XXXXXXX and hence would have raised CEA then only.
I think he needs re-evaluation by his Oncologist and planned to see or rule out secondaries or recurrence.
It is possible that the PET CT in XXXXXXX could not pick up the focus and hence a review PET CT and/or CT may be needed.
CEA of 40 is too high.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, this is alarming.
There is no reference about CT , Pet CT and Ultrasound raising the CEA levels.
And that too were conducted in 3rd weeks of XXXXXXX and hence would have raised CEA then only.
I think he needs re-evaluation by his Oncologist and planned to see or rule out secondaries or recurrence.
It is possible that the PET CT in XXXXXXX could not pick up the focus and hence a review PET CT and/or CT may be needed.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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