I was hoping to never having to come back to this forum after the Chemo of my mom.
In 2023 she was diagnosed with breast cancer, there was no spreading to other organs but she did have 9 involved lymph nodes removed.
My mom had to go trough 6 months of weekly Chemo and is now on chemo pills that she should take for atleast two years (the cancer is hormonal)
Today she went for here monthly bloodwork and the ground was removed from under our feet as the oncologist told my mom she had to have a PET scan since here CEA levels based on the fact that there are some inconsistencies regarding the CEA levels:
May 19th 2024 - CEA 3,8 ug/L (non-smoker)
July 2 2024 - CEA 4,0 ug/L (non-smoker)
October 28 2024 - CEA 4,9 ug/L (non-smoker)
December 9 2024 - CEA 5,6 ug/L (non-smoker)
Januari 20 2025 - CEA 4,9 ug/L (non-smoker)
Do these results indicate that there is more than likely metastasis? Are these results very woryingā¦iām trying to comfort here but this news really scared here allot. Is it a good sign that in comparison to december (5,6 ug/L) the markers went down this month to 4,9 ug/L. Or does that mean absolutely nothing?
She does have lots intestinal problems since starting chemo, almost 1 year of daily diarrhoea. Could this be a reason why the CEA is higher than it should or are we just fooling ourselves?
Just a month ago she had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy. Both were ok.
Is this itā¦is this the moment iāve been afraid of for all this time that iām going to lose my mom?
Hi,
From your post I think the oral medication you are talking about is Abemaciclib. I am taking this medication too, but my oncologist has never checked my CEA. However my liver results have been abnormal at times and I had a liver scan which was normal. It turned out that the abnormal results were due to another medical condition which was eventually picked up. I understand your anxiety and the waiting is torture I hope it all turns out well for your mum.
This website is excellent in understanding tests - why they are taken - and what the results may indicate. It is the website referenced by some of the NHS trusts.
The following link is for the specific test you mention - hope it helps.
āA steadily rising CEA result may be the first sign that the cancer has returned.ā
Since doing the test starting at 3,8 ug/L it has been going up over a course of 8 months untill last monday where it drops back to the same result as in the 6th month.
Would this still be considered as āsteadily risingā?
We donāt know if here CEA levels were ever lower than 3.8 ug/L since they only started checking it 8 months ago for the first time.
She has been verry tired since she stoped the chemo and switched to chemo pills. Also allot of intestine issues like loose stool on a daily basis. The endoscopy she had last month was good.
Hi Elien,
I appreciate this is stressful and weāve all been there - trying to understand results etc. I donāt think anyone on this forum will be able to answer specifically for you - as the website says, results have to consider other factors (e.g. age etc).
How I use this site (labtestonline) is to understand why the test was taken - what it ācould meanā- to help me best understand what questions I want to ask when at my next appointment.
I think you have written the key questions that you could ask at the next appointment.
Sorry I canāt help more - what I have personally learnt myself is to have patience - not to overread things or over think what something might mean or be - be prepared with questions each time I have an appointment. All of this is hard, Iām not pretending it isnāt.
Thanks for posting. This sounds like a very difficult and challenging time for you and your mom.
Some people do have their response to treatment measured using tumour markers. These can include CEA. @strollingby has also included this in their response.
Doctors tend to use a series of results rather than a single result. If the cancer responds to the treatment, tumour marker levels often decrease. Increasing levels may indicate that the cancer is not responding to treatment. A scan may be useful to check this which your mom has been recommended. When used, tumour markers are a very small part of monitoring the condition and are not often used on their own to make decisions about starting or changing treatment.
Itās not possible for us to say whether this may indicate that the cancer has spread (metastases). However, once the PET scan has been reported the results should be communicated to your mom. Depending on the results her current treatment may continue or be changed.
Do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to more support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks. The number is 0808 800 6000, If you have hearing or speech difficulties prefix our number with 18001 and the call will go through Relay UK. Our helpline has access to telephone interpreters if language translation is required.
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Best wishes
Carolyn
Breast Care Nurse
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