My marker is going up and my doctor says it can be from inflammation.
Would be interested what other lymies have for CEA markers.
Posted by one4islands (Member # 28187) on :
Why was one drawn on you? Do you have cancer or did you have cancer at one time?
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
Dr. S, the babesia author, says that babesia can lead to cancer.
Posted by viva (Member # 8183) on :
Karenl,
My husband has had colon cancer, and has also been treating Lyme for 5+ years. His oncologist has been using the CEA test as a marker to track potential recurrence post-chemo.
His CEA has varied from 1.9 to (recently) 3.5. It's definitely true that inflammation, particularly in the GI tract, can cause increases/false positives in CEA numbers. It's also the case that tumors may occur without this being reflected in the CEA level.
We are hoping that the recent spike is a false positive (he did have some GI disturbance on the day of the blood draw); he'll do another CEA in a month, and then have a scan if the number is still on the high side.
Our oncologist says that the important thing is the trend, so any single reading may not be enough data. His oncologist likes to have at least 3 data points to work with.
The bottom line is that only a CAT and/or PET scan can give you the full story.
By the way, I'd like to step up on the soapbox for just a moment to say that Lyme and cancer CAN co-occur. Everyone who's reading this, please get your scheduled colonoscopies and other tests. My husband was asymptomatic when he was diagnosed.
Karenl, I hope that your marker is just a matter of inflammation. Please do let us know.
Best to you, Viva
Posted by karenl (Member # 17753) on :
CEA is just drawn as a routine lab when I do a blood draw every year - no specific reason.
I would recommend it for everyone - at least over 40 or 50.
Viva, good idea, I will retest in some months.
Is your husband on LDN? Please read about LDN at [email protected], many use it with cancer.But it also helps for inflammation.
Posted by one4islands (Member # 28187) on :
Viva-thank you for stepping up on your soapbox.
My husband was diagnosed w/ colon cancer as well in 2008 at age 42.
Unfortunately, he had blood in his stools for three years prior that his idiot dr. said was hemorrhoids.
I assumed the dr. examined him, so I never questioned it.
When he told me he never had a rectal exam or hemoccult stool test I hit the roof and my dr. ordered his tests.
They found two polyps and a mass and even a carcinoma in his appendix-Stage IIB.
Colectomy and 6 months of chemo-latest CT scan/CEA showed NED.
Colon cancer is not an old people disease.
It is showing up in people in their 20's and 30's at increased rates.
Many are misdiagnosed w/ IBS or other bowel disorders without ever having a colonoscopy until it has advanced.
Never ignore any GI symptoms. Early detection is the key to survival.
Posted by Stacyb (Member # 13084) on :
Karen,
I just had elevated EOS and NRBC for my last labs with a few other things off that could indicate several things. My LLMD had me go to an Hemo/Oncol. Dr. and run more tests! It turned out to be the change of medication which stirred up a lot!
Posted by karenl (Member # 17753) on :
Stacy,
I know the meds and the inflammation can influence the tests. Maybe I also get more tests if the marker is the same in some months.
Your eos are indicative for parasites, are you treating them?
Posted by Stacyb (Member # 13084) on :
Karen,
Thanks for the info on parasites. I am on antimalarial meds but have not directly treated parasites and it is on my list of next things to do as I hear that this helped so many get to a better place. I need to get on the humaworm website again. Any other things that have helped with parasites?
Thanks
Posted by viva (Member # 8183) on :
Karenl,
My husband IS on low dose naltrexone; thank you for the link. I should read more about it.
I'm so glad to hear your husband is NED!
Viva
Posted by karenl (Member # 17753) on :
Viva, it is one4islands' husband.
They even take LDN now twice a day, you need to read and contact other people on LDN.