CEA stands for a carcinoembryonic antigen, a naturally occurring protein in the tissues of the developing fetus, which then reduces and becomes very minimal after birth. It is measured by a CEA test, for which a blood sample is required. Cancers of the breast, urinary tract, reproductive organs, lung, colon, pancreas, and thyroid show higher levels of CEA. In addition, it can also be increased due to smoking, liver disorders, gallbladder problems, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, gastritis, lung infection, etc.
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My CEA values are increasing while on chemotherapy. Why?
Query: Hello doctor,On chemotherapy, CEA is rising. The patient had colon cancer surgery last year and was in the third stage. A PET scan showed one metastasis in the liver of 16 mm and one distant node. The chemotheraphy was started last year. CEA is rising instead of decreasing. The CEA values were 9.8, ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Stage III colon cancer will have elevated CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) levels. However, following surgery and on chemotherapy, it should gradually come down. 10 is not very high. Still, post-surgery the standards should have been around six. Now since it is increas... Read Full »
My 56-year-old aunt has a high CA-125 value. Please help.
Query: Hello doctor, My aunt is 56 years old. She has 24 to 25 mm endometrial thickness with internal vascularity. Her CA-125 value is 50.1 units/L, and her CEA is 6.4 µg/L. I think she has reached menopause because her FSH is high (91 IU/L), and she has post-menopausal bleeding. During a physical examina... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through your history and understand your concerns. Your aunt's symptoms are suggestive of hormonal imbalance due to her age, or it can be due to the menopausal stage. You must go for laparoscopic hysteroscopy dilation and curettage and send tissue for bio... Read Full »
Other than colonoscopy, what are the tests used to rule out colon or rectal cancer?
Query: Hi doctor, I have hemorrhoids for a few years. My doctor has suggested me a colonoscopy to rule out cancer. Is there any simple test available to rule out colon or rectal cancer? Please mention an opinion regarding stool occult blood test. Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. First of all, you get an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) abdomen done. You can have a presence of mass when you have a colon or rectal cancer. If there is a mass seen, then you can do a colonoscopy. You can also do a CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) as CEA show an increase... Read Full »
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