HI, I AM A 60 YEAR old female who was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer at the age of 54. I went through 11 Chemo treatments. My counts were good and everything was going well until recently, My CEA has consistently gone up for my last 6 checkups. Within the last 3 months, my counts have gone from 5.5, to 6.6 in two months, and now in the last month it went from 6.6 to 7.2. What do you feel this means? I have had a colon resection, and I do smoke about a pack a day, but I always have and after my treatments my CEA was normal.
Hi, dairy have gone through your question. I can understand your concern. You have colorectal cancer stage 4. CEA level directly increase with tumor growth.  But you are smoker and smoking can also increase the CEA level.  So avoid smoking. Go for regular follow up. Continue your treatment accordingly. Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using Chat Doctor. Wish you a very good health.