In 5/2004 I had a CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) screening, offered for free where I worked. My CEA number was 8.3, compared to the normal range of 0 to 4.1. I was concerned so I went to see my doctor. I had a chest X-ray, blood tests, and a colonoscopy. Everything was fine. My doctor told me that the CEA is not a screening tool but is used to monitor status after a specific cancer has been diagnosed. From that point on, I did not take any more CEA screening at work based on what I was told. I had my physical exam done every year without chest X-ray or CEA test. In 10/2007 I was diagnosed with stage 4 (advanced) non-small cell lung cancer. My CEA number was 430 in 10/2007.
Did I miss the early warning of lung cancer when I first had the CEA screened in 5/2004?
Could or should my doctor have done more to detect my lung cancer earlier?