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On my lab reports <5 (less than 5) is normal range. I don't know where 3.5 comes from - this is well into normal according to my reports. Mine came down from 6.7 in Feb to 3.6 3 weeks ago. I will have it checked again on Tues when I get my Herceptin. It is good to see my CEA back in the normal area, as it had gotten up to about 19 with the brain mets.
My med onc started taking tumor markers when I was on my adjuvent treatment in 2001 to see if they might be reliable in my case. The markers were up even then and came down to normal range a few weeks after I finished the Taxotere. We decided then that they would be taken at least every 3 months, since I had an aggressive type of disease. That was fine with me and - lo and behold - the next time marker was up and liver mets were on the rampage.
It is my understanding from my med onc that this has to be tried with each patient to see if markers can be an indicator of trouble brewing. I do know that some patients do not have as clear an indication as I do, but a false positive is at least worth checking out in anyone who has cancer, NO?
And there are some new tests on the horizon that the med oncs who don't like the current markers may feel better about trying.
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