Oncology meeting
19 March 2019
Today we had a review/planning meeting with Jim at Oncology. Very eerie walking past five armed Police officers with their big black machine guns. Volunteers in hi-vis vests and hospital security also seemed in higher attendance.
CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) Markers:
The medical team performs this blood test on a protein in Anaru's blood to see how active his cancer tumours are in his system. Sometimes, this test can show the cancer is still active when other tests, such as the CT scan is showing that there is no growth.
In Anaru's case, it gives an indication as to how quickly his cancer is growing and progressing. A rough guide is that a non-smoker would have a CEA level of 3 or less, and a smoker at 5 or less. Anaru's level at it's highest when he was not on any treatment was 1600. With treatment it went down to around 390 and then it jumped to 760 when the FOLFIRI chemo stopped working and latest result today... 870.
As for the tumours, noticeable further growth in segments 2 and 7. In addtion to Segments 4 and 8, where the tumours have always been the largest. Segment 2/3 has already been surgically removed and grew back with 20+ lesions and some that have grown into big tumours.
Yup, the news was not great.
Anaru is having a two week break from chemo and they have agreed to re-try FOLFOX chemo while the Cetuximab planning continues. The biopsy of Anaru's tumour has been taken, but results were not on the system to discuss today.
I will update when we know further.
The Grays xx