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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Cancer / April 2004CEA Up
I had been asking around here about whether or not I should be worried about my wife's elevated CEA score. Well, she just had a blood test and went from a 4.8 to 10.8. So, I'm in a full blown panic, but I'm trying to keep it from her. She has enough on her plate. She's scheduled for CT scan to look for any problems. She's already been diagnosed with Gall Bladder problems. Could this be responsible for the score going up? Harry > I had been asking around here about whether or not I should be > worried about my wife's elevated CEA score. Well, she just had a blood [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Harry Hello Harry, I would that maybe CEA levels could be involved with chronic gallbladder problems, but not sure and would ask Steph (if/when he's around). I had my gallbladder removed due to stones <30 years ago. I suspect they did not bother checking my CEA. What is the nature of her gallbladder problemss? Is there a reason she's been hanging onto her gallbladder and/or would it be reasonable to get it removed? Just wondering. Keep in touch J >Hello Harry, I would that maybe CEA levels could be involved with chronic >gallbladder problems, but not sure and would ask Steph (if/when he's [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >be reasonable to get it removed? >Just wondering. Keep in touch J, Earlier x-rays showed gall stones. She's had no attacks but has had some episodes of minor discomfort. The only reason she hasn't had the Gall Bladder removed is because of the lack of attacks. No medical reason not to have it removed. Just a lack of desire to be operated on again. Harry > I had been asking around here about whether or not I should be > worried about my wife's elevated CEA score. Well, she just had a blood [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Harry Does she have a history of colon cancer, Harry? >Does she have a history of colon cancer, Harry? Yes, that was the reason for the CEA to begin with. She's had a sub-total colectomy, leaving her with an ileostomy and she went through 6 months of chemo. Harry > >Does she have a history of colon cancer, Harry? > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Harry And the stage of that cancer was...? >And the stage of that cancer was...? They found two different cancers. One was stage 2. The other was just barely stage 3. They took a large number of lymph nodes to check and found evidence of cancer in one node, so that pushed her into stage 3. > >And the stage of that cancer was...? > > They found two different cancers. One was stage 2. The other > was just barely stage 3. They took a large number of lymph nodes to > check and found evidence of cancer in one node, so that pushed her > into stage 3. I remember now. CEA can rise because of gall stones, especially if they block the bile duct. However, you need to be aware that the commonest cause of a rising CEA in someone with a history of colon cancer is recurrent disease. Most commonly the recurrence is local (the pelvis) or in the liver. I assume she will be having a CAT scan or ultrasound? >I remember now. >CEA can rise because of gall stones, especially if they block the bile duct. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >the recurrence is local (the pelvis) or in the liver. >I assume she will be having a CAT scan or ultrasound? Well, the fact that Gall Stones can raise CEA scores makes me feel better, but I still have to prepare myself for the worst. Cheryl's scheuled for a CAT scan on Apr 2nd. I'll post a message when we get the results. Harry > I had been asking around here about whether or not I should be >worried about my wife's elevated CEA score. Well, she just had a blood [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >Harry I want to thank everyone for their encouraging words. Unfortunately the CT Scan showed cancer. We'll find out how bad on Friday. Harry Harry, I remember once my sister's CEA had risen. I don't know how high but the doctor said that by itself did not necessarily mean anything. Her next one was normal and have been from that time on. This was several years ago, and she's doing fine. >I remember once my sister's CEA had risen. I don't know how high but the >doctor said that by itself did not necessarily mean anything. Her next one was >normal and have been from that time on. This was several years ago, and she's >doing fine. I wish that were the case here, but apparently the scan showed cancer on her liver and lungs. We see her oncologist on Friday and see how bad it is. The only good news we got is that he said at this point, we'd almost certainly be looking at chemo and not surgery. I know chemo is no walk in the park, but they already gutted her like a fish. I don't want to see her go under the knife again. > >I remember once my sister's CEA had risen. I don't know how high but the > >doctor said that by itself did not necessarily mean anything. Her next one was [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > I know chemo is no walk in the park, but they already gutted > her like a fish. I don't want to see her go under the knife again. Harry, before embarking on chemo simply because the CEA is up, I think you really need to ask yourself what you think chemo can achieve. An elevated CEA may not be a reason to be jumping into chemotherapy. >Harry, >before embarking on chemo simply because the CEA is up, I think you really >need to ask yourself what you think chemo can achieve. >An elevated CEA may not be a reason to be jumping into chemotherapy. Steph, These results were from a CT scan. Apparently there's somethimg involing the liver and her lungs. We find out how bad it is on Friday. > >Harry, > >before embarking on chemo simply because the CEA is up, I think you really [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > somethimg involing the liver and her lungs. We find out how bad it is > on Friday. I know that. But you still need to be sure what you expect chemo can achieve, and what it can actually achieve. It's important not to be aiming at treating a CEA, or a CT scan..... but the patient > >Harry, > >before embarking on chemo simply because the CEA is up, I think you really [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > somethimg involing the liver and her lungs. We find out how bad it is > on Friday. I think what Steph is getting at is does she have symptoms now (that would improve with the chemo) vs the side effects from and risks of chemo? That's the reason for his Questions to Ask (which, in your wife's situation, I would take to the oncologist and get straight answers to). <http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=KyW97.994%243x.3689%40ne ws.bc.tac.net> (print it up, give your wife a copy to look over and take it with you tomorrow) Harry, I know you love your wife and want her with you as long as possible, but if the oncologist tells you that a cure is probably not possible, then you both have to ask yourselves, is there something else we'd rather be doing for the next 3 or 4 months, than getting chemos and low blood counts and other nasties, only to maybe gain a month or so versus enjoying the time left and treating symptoms from the tumor(s) as they occur. Think in terms of quality of life. J > I wish that were the case here, but apparently the scan showed > cancer on her liver and lungs. We see her oncologist on Friday and see > how bad it is. The only good news we got is that he said at this > point, we'd almost certainly be looking at chemo and not surgery. > I know chemo is no walk in the park, but they already gutted > her like a fish. I don't want to see her go under the knife again. Harry, she might need a stent or intestinal bypass down the line. J > I had been asking around here about whether or not I should be >worried about my wife's elevated CEA score. Well, she just had a blood [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > She's already been diagnosed with Gall Bladder problems. Could >this be responsible for the score going up? Well, we got the word today... More cancer. She gets a biopsy done on the 22nd. I don't know what the Hell I'm gonna do to hold it together. She's definitely getting more chemo, worse then the last time around, and she might get surgery, depending on the results of the biopsy. > > I had been asking around here about whether or not I should be > >worried about my wife's elevated CEA score. Well, she just had a blood [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > around, and she might get surgery, depending on the results of the > biopsy. Harry, there is no "definitely" about it. Does she have any symptoms? >Harry, there is no "definitely" about it. >Does she have any symptoms? Steph, At this point, just some tenderness that we've attributed to the gall stones. The cancer at this stage has been identified as a lesion on her liver and one on her lung. They're doing a needle biopsy on the liver lesion to see if it's new cancer, or spread from the old. > >Harry, there is no "definitely" about it. > >Does she have any symptoms? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > lesion on her liver and one on her lung. They're doing a needle biopsy > on the liver lesion to see if it's new cancer, or spread from the old. Before embarking on any toxic treatment make sure you know what it is intended to achieve, and what the likelihood of benefit is........... >Before embarking on any toxic treatment make sure you know what it is >intended to achieve, and what the likelihood of benefit is........... Steph, We've already had a long talk with her oncologist and her nurse as well as a social worker, a psychiatrist and a therapist. One thing we've got is input into the decision. Harry > >Harry, there is no "definitely" about it. > >Does she have any symptoms? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > lesion on her liver and one on her lung. They're doing a needle biopsy > on the liver lesion to see if it's new cancer, or spread from the old. Hello Harry, The tenderness is likely her liver. Since you're bankrupt and (your words), they "gutted her like a fish" AND the chemo for 6 months obviously failed to hold the cancer back, why you/they would put her through further investigations is beyond me. I think there are protocols for gastro cancers, regardless of which gastro organ is involved. (Steph?) I'm not posting this dispassionately, I'm speaking now from the point of view of a person who has always believed in the "never give up" philosophy, yet now understand when it's time to call it quits and go for quality of life. It was the life (and the death) of my father that finally reconciled in me, why nothing was done for my mother. J >I'm not posting this dispassionately, I'm speaking now from the point of >view of a person who has always believed in the "never give up" >philosophy, yet now understand when it's time to call it quits and go for >quality of life. It was the life (and the death) of my father that finally >reconciled in me, why nothing was done for my mother. J, I understand your point of view, but we're a long way from calling it quits. My wife has been fully briefed on what to expect from the chemo. And she's not ready to give up yet. Not by a long shot. Harry |
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