United Kingdom
A 67-year-old female asked:
What can this cea pattern mean on chemotherapy for colon cancer mets 65 before chemo, 80 after round 1, 55 after round 2?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Julie Abbottanswered
Preventive Medicine 47 years experience
It's improving!: All it really means is the CEA is going in the right direction ... falling after chemotherapy. You can not reliably speculate on what the number changes might say about the magnitude of improvement. There is too much individual variability and unpredictability for that. I would be pleased that these changes have occurred. Best wishes as you continue your treatment:)
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Myron Arlenanswered
Surgical Oncology 66 years experience
Progression disease: CEA as a tumor marker is only effective in monitoring and not diagnosing cancer. If in presence of known disease the CEA continues to rise then progression of disease being monitored. When CEA goes from 80 to 55 after round 2 of chemo then there an effective method of defining regression of metastatic disease. If CEA rises then change of protocol would be required.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Aug 20, 2015
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