This is an update about my CEA for breast cancer: I have…

Hello, this is Dr. David. I have read your question and am ready to help.

CEA is not that great of a tumor marker for breast or colon cancer.

those levels are low and I don't think your doctor really should be drawing them like this because I think it only increases your anxiety and doesn't tell you or him any information

it is not a sign of cancer recurrence.

yes, this is Dr. David

the busiest oncologist here at JustAnswers! :)

which makes no sense at all

right?

which means that the changes of the CEA are not reflective of cancer being in your body or not.

and the thyroid tests were normal?

it is normal on PET scans to sometimes have some uptake in the throat and neck area because the contrast die injected collects in the saliva and when you are lying down during the PET scan, you can get pooling of saliva in the back of the throat which can look like activity on PET scan.

So I suspect your thyroid tests most likely will be normal.

if your liver enzymes are normal, then your liver is not significantly injured.

CEA above 5.0 does not mean cancer

as far as your breast cancer is concerned, the CEA is pretty close to arbitrary.

tamoxifen can occationally cause joint and bone aches as well, but less often compared to aromatase inhibitors.

tamoxifen has a 1% increased risk for uterine cancer and blood clots

AI has a 1-2% increase risk for pathological fracture from osteoporosis.

let me know if you have other questions.

try not to stress out over some crappy tumor markers.

you have done everything right to fight your breast cancer

if done please accept

thanks for using JustAnswers