Patient replied :
Yes he is a heavy smoker but even still in may his cea was only 3. His surgery took place march .then June was 4 and July 6. So it is rising . Without cancer a cea would not rise right?
For mets or a reoccurrence does this pattern tend to happen ? If not , wat level should cea be for progression of mets or reoccurrence ?
Hello. Thank you for writing to us again.
There is no cut off as such, but it is acceptable for the markers to rise until 10 for a heavy smoker.
If it is rising, it means recurrence but cannot quantify the tumor load. Did you discuss with your Oncologist ?
Feel free to discuss further,
Regards
Patient replied :
Thx. U mean if rises more than 10 or this kind of rise 3 to 6 indicates recurrence ?
Is recurrence different to mets? SO does this rise from 3 to 6 in three months mean recurrence ?
Thank you for writing to us again.
I meant that for a heavy smoker the cut off is 10, as smoking can cause elevation of CEA values. Recurrence can be either at the local site where the tumor was present initially or at a different site.
This can be determined by an imaging evaluation.
Feel free to discuss further,
Regards
Patient replied :
So can recurrence be in organs too like liver lungs with these cea readings ?
Hello. Thank you for writing to us again.
I can't be sure where the disease is. Only CT SCAN will give conclusive evidence.
If you get a baseline CT Scan done now, you can upload the report and then i will assisrt you further,
Regards