CEA testing

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Lawone13
Lawone13 Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I had a mastectomy with lymph node dissection with the sentinel lymph node being positive, 18 months ago. I have had several CEA tests starting at 10, then 10.4 then 9.4 now up to 10.9. My oncologist doesn't seem concerned but I am. Should I just be blowing this off. I am HER2 + and ER/PR positive? I just want to get back to a normal life and be rid of the fear.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited July 2013

    The following can cause elevations. Chemo can too.



    Another condition or disease is present, such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), or an obstructed bile duct.

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  • savgigi
    savgigi Member Posts: 376
    edited July 2013

    I worked in hospital labs for years. Normal for a CEA is around 0-5 if you are a smoker, and around 0-3 if you are not a smoker. Since you know your CEA level is elevated, the thing to watch now is whether the level dramatically changes. You can expect small fluctuations from one time to the next. As I see it, your level has remained relatively the same over time. Your onc is looking for a dramatic increase and is not concerned with a change from 9.4-10.9. If your level starts creeping up over the next 1-2 tests, your onc may be more concerned.

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