Q: m cea blood cancer test was <0.5 is that n normal range? thank u:-)

Yes: To answer your question simply, yes that is in normal range for cea. However, a normal CEA does not mean a person does or does not have a cancer. It does become useful to trend and monitor for recurrence in patients with colon cancer, especially if they previously had an elevated level.

Q: what cea value conisdered a risk of rectal cancer stage 1 recurr. preoper the value is 2.2 and since two years its arround .7?

Be careful..: Do not put too much value on a blood test by itself. CEA of 3 or less is considered "normal". Smokers have higher CEAs; up to 5, maybe 10. Anything higher than that is suspicious but by no means diagnostic of recurrence. So called "tumor markers" sometimes go up in non malignant diseases or even for no detectable reason at all. Scans and sometimes biopsies are needed to confirm cancer. Best 2U!

Q: what does slight increase from .7 to 1 cea level indicates after resecting rectal cancer stage 1 two years back . the preope value 2.2?

It is normal: Your CEA is normal, so why bother checking it. I would advise not to check it unless there is clear cut indication. it can only cause you more anxiety and little benefit!

Q: if cea levels are high (10-13) & all tests clear of any cancer can smoking be the only reason for such high cea? what would be normal cea?

Yes: Normal CEA is generally below 5. By the way, CEA is not a screening test. It is used to follow diseases that exist and hint, sometimes, at recurrence. If someone has a cancer, such as colon cancer, and is getting a CEA for follow-up, if they are a smoker, it might be elevated as you stated.

Q: 86y/o, smoker with cea 72.5 its my grandpa, should i be concerned about that, what r the pprobability it is cancer i read for malignant above 10? =(

It is not normal: An 86 yo man , smoker with elevated CEA does not sound very good to me. Cea could be elevated in a smoker but 72.5 can't be explained by being a smoker alone. Off course, CEA can be elevated in different setting as well. I am particularly, however, concern about colon cancer/gi cancer and lung cancer. Any colonsocopy or cxr or ct chest recently? Any other symptom? See md and need to get checked!

Q: how common is it for gastrointestinal cancers to cause an elevated cea level? is this even a meaningful test? does it correlate w/a prognostic factor?

Not for screening: A great many smokers have somewhat elevated CEA, and cancer patients with very high CEA will usually have their cancers spotted by ordinary methods. Every one of the serum tumor markers has proved worthless as a screen -- the extra cases they'd pick up are outweighed by the morbidity (not to mention expense) of fishing expeditions searching for most-nonexistent tumors.

Q: my cea test was a 3. what should i do? i had colon cancer in 1997?

CEA of 3: is in normal range. IF you have been getting regular checkups yearly and colonoscopies, you don't need to do anything more. Just follow the recommendations for your follow ups and colonoscopies provided by your Oncologist/Colorectal surgeon/gastroenterologist.

Question 1

what is the cancer marker lab test cea something?

Accepted Answer

Colon cancer marker: The CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) test is a colon cancer tumor marker. As with most tumor markers, it is not used as a screening test for colon cancer (in other words, it is not used to find the cancer because of a relatively high false positive rate) but it is used to monitor the cancer once it has been diagnosed. This is particularly useful for treated colon cancer to see if the tumor reoccurs.

Question 2

a friend has been told they have colon cancer, diagnosed via a tumour marker blood test, high cea, ct scan showed contained mass. is this conclusive?

Accepted Answer

Biopsy: Biopsy of the mass at colonoscopy is the only conclusive test, but the list of abnormalities identified is strongly concerning for colon cancer. Best wishes.

Question 3

i am a breast cancer survival - do i need to do the tumour markers blood test -ca153, ca19.9, ca12.5, cea, afp?

Accepted Answer

Helpful: Tumor marker like 27.29 can be use in conjunction with physical exam and xray/mammogram to detect cancer recurrent.

Question 4

m cea blood cancer test was <0.5 is that n normal range? thank u:-)

Accepted Answer

Yes: To answer your question simply, yes that is in normal range for cea.  However, a normal CEA  does not mean a person does or does not have a cancer.  It does become useful to trend and monitor for recurrence in patients with colon cancer, especially if they previously had an elevated level.

Question 5

what cea value conisdered a risk of rectal cancer  stage 1 recurr. preoper the value is 2.2 and since two years its arround .7?

Accepted Answer

Be careful..: Do not put too much value on a blood test by itself. CEA of 3 or less is considered "normal". Smokers have higher CEAs; up to 5, maybe 10. Anything higher than that is suspicious but by no means diagnostic of recurrence. So called  "tumor markers" sometimes go up in non malignant diseases or even for no detectable reason at all. Scans and sometimes biopsies are needed to confirm cancer. Best 2U!

Question 6

what does slight increase from .7 to 1 cea level indicates after resecting rectal cancer stage 1 two years back .  the preope value 2.2?

Accepted Answer

It is normal: Your CEA is normal, so why bother checking it. I would advise not to check it unless there is clear cut indication. it can only cause you more anxiety and little benefit!

Question 7

if cea levels are high (10-13)  & all tests clear of any cancer can smoking be the only reason for such high cea?  what would be normal cea?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Normal CEA is generally below 5.
By the way, CEA is not a screening test. It is used to follow diseases that exist and hint, sometimes, at recurrence. If someone has a cancer, such as colon cancer, and is getting a CEA for follow-up, if they are a smoker, it might be elevated as you stated.

Question 8

86y/o, smoker with cea 72.5 its my grandpa, should i be concerned about that, what r the pprobability it is cancer i read for malignant above 10? =(

Accepted Answer

It is not normal: An 86 yo man , smoker with elevated CEA does not sound very good to me. Cea could be elevated in a smoker but 72.5 can't be explained by being a smoker alone. Off course, CEA can be elevated in different setting as well.  I am particularly, however, concern about colon cancer/gi cancer and lung cancer. Any colonsocopy or cxr or ct chest recently? Any other symptom? See md and need to get checked!

Question 9

how common is it for gastrointestinal cancers to cause an elevated cea level? is this even a meaningful test? does it correlate w/a prognostic factor?

Accepted Answer

Not for screening: A great many smokers have somewhat elevated CEA, and cancer patients with very high CEA will usually have their cancers spotted by ordinary methods. Every one of the serum tumor markers has proved worthless as a screen -- the extra cases they'd pick up are outweighed by the morbidity (not to mention expense) of fishing expeditions searching for most-nonexistent tumors.

Question 10

my cea test was a 3. what should i do? i had colon cancer in 1997?

Accepted Answer

CEA of 3: is in normal range. IF you have been getting regular checkups yearly and colonoscopies, you don't need to do anything more. Just follow the recommendations for your follow ups and colonoscopies provided by your Oncologist/Colorectal surgeon/gastroenterologist.

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Doctor answers about:

Cea cancer marker

A member asked:

What is the cancer marker lab test cea something?

A member asked:

A friend has been told they have colon cancer, diagnosed via a tumour marker blood test, high cea, ct scan showed contained mass. is this conclusive?

A member asked:

I am a breast cancer survival - do i need to do the tumour markers blood test -ca153, ca19.9, ca12.5, cea, afp?

A member asked:

M cea blood cancer test was <0.5 is that n normal range? thank u:-)

A member asked:

What cea value conisdered a risk of rectal cancer stage 1 recurr. preoper the value is 2.2 and since two years its arround .7?

A member asked:

What does slight increase from .7 to 1 cea level indicates after resecting rectal cancer stage 1 two years back . the preope value 2.2?

A member asked:

If cea levels are high (10-13) & all tests clear of any cancer can smoking be the only reason for such high cea? what would be normal cea?

A member asked:

86y/o, smoker with cea 72.5 its my grandpa, should i be concerned about that, what r the pprobability it is cancer i read for malignant above 10? =(

A member asked:

How common is it for gastrointestinal cancers to cause an elevated cea level? is this even a meaningful test? does it correlate w/a prognostic factor?

A member asked:

My cea test was a 3. what should i do? i had colon cancer in 1997?

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