Guest guest Posted July 29, 2005 Report Share Posted July 29, 2005 Caroline, In the files of this group there is a explaination of what the CEA means. Larry and Janet Http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Janetrgreen Caroline ecaroline1213@...> wrote: Sorry it's taken me a couple of days to reply back to you-esp. after your replied to me so quickly. I was out at working at a remote office for a few days. Anyway ... The surgeon removed a large tumor from his colon, but didn't touch the tumors on his liver. The surgeon was actually very grim about my dad's prognosis, so it's even more amazing to us that he's doing so well. The onc. only prescribed him Xeloda. (I think because my dad was really, really scared about a port-a-cath & intravenous chemo - to almost the point of not wanting to try chemo.) She originally mentioned putting him on Avastin, but then decided to just try the Xeloda on its own at first. It's reassuring to read that the CEA readings can be very erratic during chemo. They do have the baseline scans from when they found the tumors, but they haven't done another one yet. The dr. wanted to wait until he finished the 4 rounds of Xeloda and then do another scan. Caroline. > > Caroline: > Where was the tumor that was removed? Was it in the liver? Was that the > only liver tumor or were there others that could not be removed? If they > removed all of the visible tumors, it sounds like he has done well. You said he > is on " chemo with Xeloda " . Is he on Folfox? I am just starting chemo next > week after liver resection, colon resection, and more and I am starting on > Folfox (Oxaliplatin, 5FU and Leucovorin with Avastin to be added the third > round). No Xeloda the first time. I am curious as to what other chemo he is using > and is doing so well on. The CEA can be misleading and it is more important > to look at the CT/Pet Scans. Has he had a follow up or baseline scan since > he began chemo? > > > Hi - I don't think I've introduced myself before; I'm primarily > a " lurker " on this board... My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 colon > cancer (w/ mets to liver and lymph nodes) on 5/18/05. He was > admitted to the hospital immediately and had a large tumor removed > and part of his colon 3 days later and a permanent colostomy put in. > He started chemo w/ Xeloda about 3 weeks later. After the first > round (2 weeks on, 2 weeks off), he went back to the oncologist for a > check-up. Although he looks really good - maintaining his weight & > had only some nausea and fatigue with the chemo - his CEA level was > still up. The onc. said that was only part of the evaluation. Since > he looked so good, she said that was more important and ordered him 3 > more rounds of Xeloda. Over the weekend, he finished his 2nd course > of the Xeloda. He handled this course much better than the first - > virtually no nausea & much less fatigue. He's eating much better > this time - almost all the same foods he did before the surgery. > And, he's been more active - taking trips to the store & swimming in > their pool. > > Here's my question - how important are the CEA levels? Dad goes back > in next week for another blood test evaluation, and I'm worried about > the impact on his spirits if the CEA levels are still increasing. His > spirits have been much better (thank you Zoloft!) the last few weeks, > and if the CEA isn't that important, I don't want him to sink into > depression (which he's prone to.) > > Thanks, > Caroline. > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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