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What Should Blood CEA Levels Be When Suffering From Bowel Cancer?
Posted on
Mon, 2 Jun 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 2 Jun 2014
Answered on
Tue, 24 Jun 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi
My dad has surgery march re bowel cancer. He was a dukes c1.
What should his cea bloodtest reading be? He is a smoker though. And how often should he have these?
My dad has surgery march re bowel cancer. He was a dukes c1.
What should his cea bloodtest reading be? He is a smoker though. And how often should he have these?
Brief Answer:
See below!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for posting on healthcaremagic.
The normal blood CEA levels should be less than 3. However, because he has already had cancer of the bowel, it needs to be compared to the previous reading during diagnosis or shortly after surgery. if the number is rising, it is not a good sign. If it is falling, it is a good sign. If it is the same and within the normal range, that's great.
CEA values are normally measured during diagnosis, 1month, 3 months and 6montsh after surgery. Depending on these readings, further decisions are made.
I hope this addresses your query fully. I wish you dad the best of all possible outcomes. Stopping smoking would help improve his overall health status.
See below!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for posting on healthcaremagic.
The normal blood CEA levels should be less than 3. However, because he has already had cancer of the bowel, it needs to be compared to the previous reading during diagnosis or shortly after surgery. if the number is rising, it is not a good sign. If it is falling, it is a good sign. If it is the same and within the normal range, that's great.
CEA values are normally measured during diagnosis, 1month, 3 months and 6montsh after surgery. Depending on these readings, further decisions are made.
I hope this addresses your query fully. I wish you dad the best of all possible outcomes. Stopping smoking would help improve his overall health status.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
His reading was 3 and this was his first cea test ever.
The prob is he is not keen to have chemo.they have offered a tablet form. Surgerybwas march , should we request a pet scan now for re occurences?
The prob is he is not keen to have chemo.they have offered a tablet form. Surgerybwas march , should we request a pet scan now for re occurences?
Brief Answer:
Do not request a pet scan
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for this follow up inquiry.
Please, let the doctors decide when to request for a pet scan. The most important thing now is not requesting for a pet scan but getting him to accept the standard of care. What difference would the results of a pet scan make? That is not necessary as of now. Even if a pet scan were to show distant metastases, it requires chemotherapy. Would he be more willing to accept it then?
Let him take his drugs for the chemotherapy. If need be, his doctors would request for the necessary exams. I do understand your concerns and worries but they are making you feel even worse. Stay relaxed and work with him on getting standard care.
I wish him the best of outcomes.
Do not request a pet scan
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for this follow up inquiry.
Please, let the doctors decide when to request for a pet scan. The most important thing now is not requesting for a pet scan but getting him to accept the standard of care. What difference would the results of a pet scan make? That is not necessary as of now. Even if a pet scan were to show distant metastases, it requires chemotherapy. Would he be more willing to accept it then?
Let him take his drugs for the chemotherapy. If need be, his doctors would request for the necessary exams. I do understand your concerns and worries but they are making you feel even worse. Stay relaxed and work with him on getting standard care.
I wish him the best of outcomes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
U can sense my worry ! I am very concerned about the mets appearing esp as hes saying if side effects r bad hel leave it.
Is 10 nodes alot? They were all within the vicinity of the tumor.
What is the difference between a c1 and c2 tumor?
Is 10 nodes alot? They were all within the vicinity of the tumor.
What is the difference between a c1 and c2 tumor?
Brief Answer:
See below
Detailed Answer:
The difference is that stage C1 tumors invade the muscularis propria with fewer than four positive nodes while stage C2 tumors completely penetrate the smooth muscle layer into the serosa with four or more involved nodes. So in the strictest sense, your dad should be classified as stage C2.
However, this makes no difference in the treatment approach. Clients with C2 have higher chances of developing metastases than those with C1.
Chemotherapy is never fun. What matters is your dad giving himself the best chances of fighting this by accepting the standard chemotherapy management. If he for sure doesn't wants this, it makes the outcomes even further more concerning than right now.
I wish you well.
See below
Detailed Answer:
The difference is that stage C1 tumors invade the muscularis propria with fewer than four positive nodes while stage C2 tumors completely penetrate the smooth muscle layer into the serosa with four or more involved nodes. So in the strictest sense, your dad should be classified as stage C2.
However, this makes no difference in the treatment approach. Clients with C2 have higher chances of developing metastases than those with C1.
Chemotherapy is never fun. What matters is your dad giving himself the best chances of fighting this by accepting the standard chemotherapy management. If he for sure doesn't wants this, it makes the outcomes even further more concerning than right now.
I wish you well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
We have managed to persuade him to take the oral form- hope side effects dont put him off
What i dont understand is his final pathology report states c1 even though 10
Nodes?
What is survival like ?
What i dont understand is his final pathology report states c1 even though 10
Nodes?
What is survival like ?
Brief Answer:
Survival depends on treatment and compliance!
Detailed Answer:
Survival depends on what the follow up investigations would suggest and how compliant he is on treatment.
If there are no mets, then for sure he would life for as long as any other person. If there are mets, his survival would depend on where the mets are as some organs are more fragile than others.
We are not there yet and what we need to do is to get the best available treatment so that we may actually reduce the chances of getting there. Talk to him and hope he at least sticks to his treatment for his good and that of his loved ones like you.
I wish him the best of all possible outcomes on this.
Survival depends on treatment and compliance!
Detailed Answer:
Survival depends on what the follow up investigations would suggest and how compliant he is on treatment.
If there are no mets, then for sure he would life for as long as any other person. If there are mets, his survival would depend on where the mets are as some organs are more fragile than others.
We are not there yet and what we need to do is to get the best available treatment so that we may actually reduce the chances of getting there. Talk to him and hope he at least sticks to his treatment for his good and that of his loved ones like you.
I wish him the best of all possible outcomes on this.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank
You so much. Are 10 nodes a large amount u think to be involved? But surgeon to be safe removed a total
Of 28 nodes.
You so much. Are 10 nodes a large amount u think to be involved? But surgeon to be safe removed a total
Of 28 nodes.
Brief Answer:
10 is not idel, even one is not!
Detailed Answer:
Please, were these 10 nodes tested and showed to be positive in a pathology lab?
The truth is that with a positive node, the prognosis is concerning and the higher the number of positive nodes, the more concerning the possibility of mets. Persons may have 1 and develop mets while others may have even a higher number and don't. So there is no clear cut as to who would and who would not
Wishing your dad well.
10 is not idel, even one is not!
Detailed Answer:
Please, were these 10 nodes tested and showed to be positive in a pathology lab?
The truth is that with a positive node, the prognosis is concerning and the higher the number of positive nodes, the more concerning the possibility of mets. Persons may have 1 and develop mets while others may have even a higher number and don't. So there is no clear cut as to who would and who would not
Wishing your dad well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Yea thats true. Ive heard ppl with 1 even get mets.
Yes i think
10 were positive thats y i dont know why they put him as a c1.
What actually determines if you get mets? Do most ppl get mets?
Yes i think
10 were positive thats y i dont know why they put him as a c1.
What actually determines if you get mets? Do most ppl get mets?
Brief Answer:
Late diagnosis and poor management!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this follow up question.
Late diagnosis and poor treatment options or compliance are the main determinants of mets. The late diagnosis is sure and we cannot do anything about it right now. What remains to be done is that is that he adheres to his treatment as prescribed. sadly enough he is not doing so and this only make his chances even higher.
As to why he was classified as C1 and not C2, please talk to his treating doctors as the reasons are not immediately clear to me.
I hope this addresses your question. I wish your dad well.
Late diagnosis and poor management!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this follow up question.
Late diagnosis and poor treatment options or compliance are the main determinants of mets. The late diagnosis is sure and we cannot do anything about it right now. What remains to be done is that is that he adheres to his treatment as prescribed. sadly enough he is not doing so and this only make his chances even higher.
As to why he was classified as C1 and not C2, please talk to his treating doctors as the reasons are not immediately clear to me.
I hope this addresses your question. I wish your dad well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Should we be worried that his cea blood test was 3? Is that normal. It was first test ever
Brief Answer:
No
Detailed Answer:
You should rather be comforted knowing that this CEA level was normal. At least, it is reassuring though would have been better if it could be compared to the previous numbers if they were available. However, future controls would shed more light on this.
I wish your Dad well!
No
Detailed Answer:
You should rather be comforted knowing that this CEA level was normal. At least, it is reassuring though would have been better if it could be compared to the previous numbers if they were available. However, future controls would shed more light on this.
I wish your Dad well!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The recent cea has shown reading of 4. Now im worried. But he is a heavy smoker?1
Brief Answer:
It is something to be worried about!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for these updates.
With rising CEA levels, there is a valid reason to get worried as it may indicate that there are active cancer cells somewhere in the body multiplying. Though not far off from the normal range of 3, it is concerning because of the increase!
What we can do is to get him to stick to his medications, keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. We cannot act on the late diagnosis anymore and any time spent talking about that would not help.
I am so sorry for all this. I pray God gives you the strength to face the reality.
I wish your dad well.
It is something to be worried about!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for these updates.
With rising CEA levels, there is a valid reason to get worried as it may indicate that there are active cancer cells somewhere in the body multiplying. Though not far off from the normal range of 3, it is concerning because of the increase!
What we can do is to get him to stick to his medications, keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. We cannot act on the late diagnosis anymore and any time spent talking about that would not help.
I am so sorry for all this. I pray God gives you the strength to face the reality.
I wish your dad well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So best option to start chemo asap right?
Will
The chemo kill
These cells, if any?
Will
The chemo kill
These cells, if any?
Brief Answer:
Yes, chemotherapy would help!
Detailed Answer:
Chemotherapy would certainly be of help. If the cells cannot be completely killed , which is the goal, their multiplication would be significantly reduce to delay onset of XXXXXXX and concerning metastases for a longer period.
The earlier, the better for him.
Best wishes!
Yes, chemotherapy would help!
Detailed Answer:
Chemotherapy would certainly be of help. If the cells cannot be completely killed , which is the goal, their multiplication would be significantly reduce to delay onset of XXXXXXX and concerning metastases for a longer period.
The earlier, the better for him.
Best wishes!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So a rise from 3 to 4 on 1 month is likely to suggest mets or could it b due to smoking?
Brief Answer:
Probably cancerous cells
Detailed Answer:
A rise signals action of cancerous cells somewhere in his body. They could still be in some other lymph nodes. It must not necessarily be mets.
With a history of Stage C cancer, I will not want to associate the rise to tobacco smoking. Tobacco is clearly bad for his health but not the first probable cause of this rise in CEA.
I wish him well.
Probably cancerous cells
Detailed Answer:
A rise signals action of cancerous cells somewhere in his body. They could still be in some other lymph nodes. It must not necessarily be mets.
With a history of Stage C cancer, I will not want to associate the rise to tobacco smoking. Tobacco is clearly bad for his health but not the first probable cause of this rise in CEA.
I wish him well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Although not a big rise still a worry?
Brief Answer:
Yes
Detailed Answer:
Not a big rise but a worry given his past medical records.
It would not be sensible should tend to ignore this having gathered all the information about his past.
I hope this helps.
Yes
Detailed Answer:
Not a big rise but a worry given his past medical records.
It would not be sensible should tend to ignore this having gathered all the information about his past.
I hope this helps.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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