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What CEA Level Indicates A Reoccurence Of Bowel Cancer?
Question: What level does a cea have to be to indicate a reoccurence of bowel cancer ?
Brief Answer:
Anything above 0 - 5 μg/L should be considered
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help.
The normal range for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is generally considered to be between 0 - 2.5 μg/L, but off late due to the interference that smoking and other factors can cause the most beneficial upper limit (cut-off) was found to be 5 μg/L. So please assume the normal range to be between 0-5 μg/L for colon cancer.
The CEA level normally returns to within normal range a while after surgery (usually around 6 weeks time). If at all a recurrence is suspected, the CEA levels are once again measured and found to be elevated. So the right answer would be to just find an elevated level, not a specific value. Although in some patients, there has shown to been inaccurate measuring of CEA levels in recurrent cases of colon cancer.
I hope you find my response both helpful and informative sir. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.
Best wishes.
Anything above 0 - 5 μg/L should be considered
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help.
The normal range for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is generally considered to be between 0 - 2.5 μg/L, but off late due to the interference that smoking and other factors can cause the most beneficial upper limit (cut-off) was found to be 5 μg/L. So please assume the normal range to be between 0-5 μg/L for colon cancer.
The CEA level normally returns to within normal range a while after surgery (usually around 6 weeks time). If at all a recurrence is suspected, the CEA levels are once again measured and found to be elevated. So the right answer would be to just find an elevated level, not a specific value. Although in some patients, there has shown to been inaccurate measuring of CEA levels in recurrent cases of colon cancer.
I hope you find my response both helpful and informative sir. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
He has never had a cea test done prior to surgery. But a rise from 3 to 4 is quite quick in 1 month right?
He was initially not keen on chemo but has now gone for it. He has been on xledo for three weeks now. Is it best for him to complete the full course n will it prevent mets or re occurrence?
He was initially not keen on chemo but has now gone for it. He has been on xledo for three weeks now. Is it best for him to complete the full course n will it prevent mets or re occurrence?
Brief Answer:
Duration does not matter ma'am; pls continue xledo
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
Then a CEA will certainly help in looking for possible recurrence. As mentioned in my previous response, a value above 5 is indicative of possible concern, but further rise in CEA values confirm the presence.
The duration does not really matter in this case ma'am, only the value does. If at all the value has risen in a months time, then we should recheck it within another month to see if it continues to rise.
As for xledo, please do not discontinue it as it helps in reducing the size of the growth mainly, and also prevents metastasis.
I hope I have explained your queries in a manner best understood by you ma'am. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always available to help.
Best wishes.
Duration does not matter ma'am; pls continue xledo
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
Then a CEA will certainly help in looking for possible recurrence. As mentioned in my previous response, a value above 5 is indicative of possible concern, but further rise in CEA values confirm the presence.
The duration does not really matter in this case ma'am, only the value does. If at all the value has risen in a months time, then we should recheck it within another month to see if it continues to rise.
As for xledo, please do not discontinue it as it helps in reducing the size of the growth mainly, and also prevents metastasis.
I hope I have explained your queries in a manner best understood by you ma'am. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always available to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
What is prognosis like for a dukes c1?
My dad is a smoker .
My dad is a smoker .
Brief Answer:
Poor prognosis is general ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
The different stages on the Dukes staging classification were studied and results were measured by their 5-year survival rate. While stage A had the most number of patients with a 5 year survival rate of 85%, Dukes B had 79%, while Dukes C had 56% and Dukes D had the least number with 7%.
Although various factors like response and treatment csn influence this, the prognosis for colorectal cancer itself is poor ma'am. I am sorry about this.
I hope and pray for quality of life more than quantity for your father. Hoping and praying for nothing but the best for him.
May god bless him with his abundance.
Poor prognosis is general ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
The different stages on the Dukes staging classification were studied and results were measured by their 5-year survival rate. While stage A had the most number of patients with a 5 year survival rate of 85%, Dukes B had 79%, while Dukes C had 56% and Dukes D had the least number with 7%.
Although various factors like response and treatment csn influence this, the prognosis for colorectal cancer itself is poor ma'am. I am sorry about this.
I hope and pray for quality of life more than quantity for your father. Hoping and praying for nothing but the best for him.
May god bless him with his abundance.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Should we request a pet scan?
Brief Answer:
Optional ma'am, not mandatory
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
A PET scan would provide a lot of infornation in cases where cancer has not yet been diagnosed. But in your father's case, not only has the cancer been diagnosed by also classified by the Dukes staging classification.
But if you wish to request for a PET scan we still can, although it is slightly on the pricey side. It will give us valuable information like metastasis (if present), confirm classification, etc.
I do not feel it is mandatory, but optional (personal). I hope this helps ma'am. Please do keep in touch if at all I can be of any further assistance.
Best wishes.
Optional ma'am, not mandatory
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
A PET scan would provide a lot of infornation in cases where cancer has not yet been diagnosed. But in your father's case, not only has the cancer been diagnosed by also classified by the Dukes staging classification.
But if you wish to request for a PET scan we still can, although it is slightly on the pricey side. It will give us valuable information like metastasis (if present), confirm classification, etc.
I do not feel it is mandatory, but optional (personal). I hope this helps ma'am. Please do keep in touch if at all I can be of any further assistance.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Why do u not think its not mandatary?
Is dukes c1 advanced?
Is dukes c1 advanced?
Brief Answer:
Have a lot of information; it is the 3rd stage
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
I felt it wasn't mandatory as the staging is already done. We normally opt for a PET scan when we suspect metastasis or are not sure about the cancer.
Dukes C1 is the third stage in the classification, wherein, the cancer has spread from the inner lining involving the muscle layer and the lymph nodes. It is not the initial stage but is not the most advanced stage either.
I hope I have explained this in a manner best understood by you ma'am. Please do not hesitate to write to me regarding any further clarifications. I am always available to help.
Best wishes.
Have a lot of information; it is the 3rd stage
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
I felt it wasn't mandatory as the staging is already done. We normally opt for a PET scan when we suspect metastasis or are not sure about the cancer.
Dukes C1 is the third stage in the classification, wherein, the cancer has spread from the inner lining involving the muscle layer and the lymph nodes. It is not the initial stage but is not the most advanced stage either.
I hope I have explained this in a manner best understood by you ma'am. Please do not hesitate to write to me regarding any further clarifications. I am always available to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi cea yest was 6. So may was 3, XXXXXXX 4 and july 5.could this mean mets are developed or developing in organs?
Brief Answer:
More likely a sign of recurrence
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
More than metastasis, this is a sign of a possible recurrence of the cancer ma'am. Please schedule an appointment with his doctor and go about more investigations like CT scan, MRI or even a PET scan.
Praying and hoping for the best.
More likely a sign of recurrence
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
More than metastasis, this is a sign of a possible recurrence of the cancer ma'am. Please schedule an appointment with his doctor and go about more investigations like CT scan, MRI or even a PET scan.
Praying and hoping for the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
What u mean by reoccurence ? So for mets would it be much higher values?
Brief Answer:
Yes, much higher value for metastasis
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
As mentioned by you ma'am, sir underwent surgery; after which the CEA level would have surely dropped. As you had his CEA levels measured only after surgery, and they were within normal range. The increase in their value now would indicate a recurrence (return) of the cancer.
As for metastasis, the CEA level would be much higher with metastasis ma'am. But is sometimes considered inaccurate when it comes to indicating metastasis, as it is primarily to predict the presence or recurrence of cancer and not for predicting metastasis.
I hope I have explained this in a manner best understood by you ma'am. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further assistance.
Best wishes.
Yes, much higher value for metastasis
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
As mentioned by you ma'am, sir underwent surgery; after which the CEA level would have surely dropped. As you had his CEA levels measured only after surgery, and they were within normal range. The increase in their value now would indicate a recurrence (return) of the cancer.
As for metastasis, the CEA level would be much higher with metastasis ma'am. But is sometimes considered inaccurate when it comes to indicating metastasis, as it is primarily to predict the presence or recurrence of cancer and not for predicting metastasis.
I hope I have explained this in a manner best understood by you ma'am. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further assistance.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Wat do u mean
By reoccurence? Another tumor in the bowel u mean?
By reoccurence? Another tumor in the bowel u mean?
Brief Answer:
Could be the same tumor or a new one
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am.
It could be another tumor in the same bowel which has begun to grow from the cells of the previous tumor or the same tumor regrowing ma'am. Only a more elaborate evaluation with a CT, MRI or PET scan will be able to provide us with precise details.
I hope this clears your doubt ma'am. I am always happy to help, so please do not hesitate to write to me about anything.
God bless.
Could be the same tumor or a new one
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am.
It could be another tumor in the same bowel which has begun to grow from the cells of the previous tumor or the same tumor regrowing ma'am. Only a more elaborate evaluation with a CT, MRI or PET scan will be able to provide us with precise details.
I hope this clears your doubt ma'am. I am always happy to help, so please do not hesitate to write to me about anything.
God bless.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
It is not normal right for cea tp rise from 3 to 6 in 3 months ?
Brief Answer:
Not normal, indicates recurrence
Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.
No ma'am, it is not considered normal as it indicates a recurrence (as explained in my previous response). By normal we would mean, it is not a cause for concern.
But in his case, it is not considered normal because this rise from a normal valuee to one that is high indicates the growth of the cancer/tumor once again to a level that is now considered harmful.
We will have to address it soon, please speak to his doctor ma'am.
Best wishes.
Not normal, indicates recurrence
Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.
No ma'am, it is not considered normal as it indicates a recurrence (as explained in my previous response). By normal we would mean, it is not a cause for concern.
But in his case, it is not considered normal because this rise from a normal valuee to one that is high indicates the growth of the cancer/tumor once again to a level that is now considered harmful.
We will have to address it soon, please speak to his doctor ma'am.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
What would b the treatment for a re- growth?
Brief Answer:
Same options; depends on current status
Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.
Treatment would have the same approaches ma'am; but it depends on the size, location, etc. The options include:
1. Surgery
2. Chemotherapy
3. Radiotherapy
4. Or combinations of the above
Which is why I suggested investigations like CT, MRI or PET to be able to assess the current condition and decide about the way forward ma'am.
Hope this helps.
Same options; depends on current status
Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.
Treatment would have the same approaches ma'am; but it depends on the size, location, etc. The options include:
1. Surgery
2. Chemotherapy
3. Radiotherapy
4. Or combinations of the above
Which is why I suggested investigations like CT, MRI or PET to be able to assess the current condition and decide about the way forward ma'am.
Hope this helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
But small micromestatic cells do not show up
On scans right?
On scans right?
Brief Answer:
You are quite right ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Yes ma'am, you are right. Small cells and those which may still be in the lymph nodes or other areas and have not really grown to a detectable size will be show up on the scans now. But when a repeat scan is done after a while, we csn use this scan to compare it with the later one and find the new metastatic masses (if any).
Hope this is clear ma'am.
You are quite right ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Yes ma'am, you are right. Small cells and those which may still be in the lymph nodes or other areas and have not really grown to a detectable size will be show up on the scans now. But when a repeat scan is done after a while, we csn use this scan to compare it with the later one and find the new metastatic masses (if any).
Hope this is clear ma'am.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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