CancerCompass message board discussion started by Cindy C. on 11/20/2002 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,481,0.htm Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ 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. Cindy C. Wed, 20 Nov 2002 00:00:00 GMT 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 Kathleen23 Fri, 11 Feb 2005 00:00:00 GMT 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 Husband With Colan Cancer Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT 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 fannymichael2004 Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi I have stage 3 (technically 4 becuae they found a spot on my sacrum, but its not a vital organ so my Doctor told me not to get oo hung up on stages, particualrly in my case) Rectal Cancer.  He did a CT Scan after the colonoscopy showed a tumor of 3 cm that effected surrounding lymphnodes.  He then ordered a CEA which showed my level at 37.  I then saw a Chemo Oncologist who ordered a CT scan.  The scan showed small spots in my lungs so he ordered a Pet Scan.  The Oncologist also said he allways ordered Pet Scans as a baseline and can be considered a little more accurate than a CT Scan.  That is his convservative approach.  The Pet Scan concluded that the spots in my lungs were likely just scar tissue which is common, but needed to be watched nonetheless.  In addition the PET revealed the small spot on my sacrum which didnt show on the CT.  He said that sometimes Pet Scans showed false positives and he was very confused why the CT didnt show this (becuase they are considered accurate).  I was also told the difference betwee the CT and Pet is that the Pet showed the entired torso while the CT only focused generally on vital organs contained within the torso.  The Pet also shows lymphnodes under the arms and neck so it appears more comprehensive (and conservative).  Since the Pet potentially showed a false positve, he needed to confirm that the spot in the sascrum was the same cancer as the rectum, or just a false positive.  He ordered an MRI on the Pelvic region which was confirmed that this was likely cancer.  Then, a biopsy of the sacrum to check for cancer cells.  In my view, this is the most comprehensive and conservative approach.I hope that helps and whatever has happened since you last wrote, just think positive which really helps.  Have faith. I just finished my first 6 week round of chemo and radiation.  A positive attuitude has kept my side-effects to a minimum.  Now I have a healing period and after 2 weeks my Doctors will reassess to determine next steps which are likely anterior resection surgery which scares me the most.  A CEA test was just taken, but I am told that this can be elevated during treatment.Stay in touchDan   RegardsDan danhasfaith Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT