Rising Cea Levels During Chemotherapy

I am a 43 year old women diagnosed with stage II colon cancer. My CEA level before surgery was 2.0 and the same after surgery. Since starting chemo (5-fu) my CEA levels have been rising. They are currently 9.5. My doctor said that the chemo can cause the rise. Has anyone else had this experience? Even though he says it is okay I am kinda scared by the rise.

Hello...

I just read your message re: rising CEA levels during 5FU chemo treatments for rectal cancer...I had stage I or possibly II(a) rectal cancer...Had radiation, Chemo (5FU); then surgery; then more 5FU chemo therapy...My levels rose from a 2 to a 6 during the most recent chemo therapy--and unlike in your case--my chemo doctor says he is concerned and has ordered a PET scan...

Can you tell me what happened in your case? It is so similar to my situation...

Kathleen

I don't understand these levels. My husbands started out at 235 and dropped to 35 and has been climbing ever since. He has taked 14 treatments and his level is now 93.8 and they did a new test CA-19 that they had not done before and it is nearly 20,000. off the wall. but we have no base line for it so we just have to go from this point. It is so frustrating.

Huaband with colon cancer

Wow, I feel I am in the same boat as you.

This week was my last week of chemo, after 8 long months of it, but just this Friday I was told that my levels went up from a 5 to a 9.  Now my oncologist has ordered me a PET SCAN.  I ask myslef why didn't my doctor did a PET scan initially instead of the CAT scan  I got?  I just don't understand why if PET scan are more accurate why they don't do them instead of CAT scans.  Are more expensive, is because of insurance puposes?  I mean wouldn't it be more logical to have a PET scan at the first sign of trouble, back when they found out we had cancer?

I am scared because back when I got diagnosed I had a a CAT Scan on a Friday, and it showed nothing, then the next Friday I had an EDG and it showed nothing, the third Friday I had a colonoscopy and I found a tumor the size of a peach.  If this CAT Scan did not pick a tumor the size of a peach,  is this PET SCAN going to find one for sure, is there going to be more than one?  I am very scared.  I am scheduled for a PET scan this Tues.  Perhaps it should had been done from the git go to avoid missin anything.  I just don't get it.

Francisca