Your healthcare provider may use a CEA test to guide cancer treatment or to see if treatment is working. Of course CEA can be elevated for entirely non-cancerous reasons. And no, I am not a smoker. In other patients who have positive serum CEA levels at initial surgery, the level becomes negative at the time of recurrence. But I've NEVER had a CEA below 1.0. And we don't worry about CEA.). And the stats have other factors. These are usually less than 10 ng/ml. What is a high CEA level for stage 3 colon cancer? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved I had melanoma on my right forearm, which resulted in a surgery leaving a 32 stitch scar. I can certainly understand your concern about the increase", "@spedteacher At the request of @hopeful33250 I am responding to you. CEA levels will generally return to normal between one and four months after the cancer has been successfully removed. That could mean that stress not only wakes up dormant tumor cells but also . It does mention about smoking being a factor to raise a CEA level. Well now since i last posted my CEA went to 0.7 So on day of surgery it was 1.5, after surgery <.3, then .5, .6 and now 8 months after surgery it is .7! Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Conditions of Use linked below. If you're a non-smoker, they consider your CEA normal until its above 3.0 I've heard of some Oncologistst say 5.0. Oxaliplatin has been shown to cause an inflammatory response which appears to be one of the mechanisms of toxicity and high CEA levels have been correlated with increased inflammation. They found that I have a predisposition for polyps. Ginger. I don't think your CEA's are anything to worry about. You tend to wait for the "other shoe to drop.". One of the effects it could have on health is a spike in blood sugar levels. Again, nothing found. What is inflammation What are the symptoms and signs of inflammation? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The reference range is 0-2.9 ng/mL of blood. If your CEA results were normal, you may still have cancer. As you are Id be very concerned and trying my best to determine why the CEA levels are raised. Dianne, have you had an appointment with your oncologist since receiving the results of this latest test? Both benign (harmless) and malignant (cancerous) conditions can increase the CEA level. I had 23 lymph nodes removed and all of them were clear, and I also had a CT scan that was good. Some cancers dont make tumor markers that can be found with current tests. Post author: Post published: June 8, 2022 Post category: what happened after mao zedong died Post comments: closing announcement target closing announcement target No follow-ups for me until May - 8 months post-op. Alkaline phosphatase. How should I prepare for a Carcinoembryonic antigen test? 16.7. This is my first contribution to CSN, of many i hope and prayer and just wanted to relate a part of my fight against this terrible killer. Also, anything in the 1.0 - 5.0 is considered "normal". This study showed that CEA levels can vary by body mass index, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and glycosylated hemoglobin and that these factors should be adjusted before interpreting CEA levels in clinical practice. My perioperative CEA was 5.8 (August 2016, non-smoker). However, serum CEA levels fluctuate over time even in the same individuals. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. How frustrating it is when you get on the scales after eating healthy and find you've gone up 5 tenths of a pound. Of course, it may take some time to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. Exercise is known to contribute to increased levels of potassium, urea, creatinine, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, uric acid, as well as the white blood cell count. I am hoping it is just something small causing this spike. And one more thing, from my understanding, there are two ways to test your CEA blood results, and one always test a little higher. It's like running a fever, or having a high white blood count, etc. Your doctor will be able to give you a fuller picture of what is going on. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies Consistent with our finding, there are reports suggesting that stress can increase tumor growth and tumor marker expression . I feel fine, exercising, not losing weight.I made an appointment to see my GP this coming week to share these results. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer which had metastized to my liver on October 2016. Heres some info from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. What can cause CEA to be elevated? So now I wait another couple of weeks to have my CEA retested. Carcinoembryonic antigen blood . One last thing to do. Confirmation of the exact benign cause of CA 19-9 elevation has a very important clinical value in that anxiety and unnecessary follow-up tests can be eliminated in patients. Drinking a lot of caffeine from coffee or green tea can also affect some blood test results. And the cancerous polyp I had was in situ with only the surface of the polyp having cancerous cells. For example, smoking cigarettes may increase your CEA levels. I just found out today (7/26) that by CEA increased to 5.9. The CEA is measured in the blood and the normal range is <2.5 ng/ml in an adult non-smoker and <5.0 ng/ml in a smoker. Typically AFP increases by about 10% as the result of smoking tobacco. He said all along that polyps typically don't cause CEA elevation. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant at the time of the test. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal My concern is regarding my CEA levels. We present the case of a patient, a 58-year-old male, who had initially presented aged 56 years with rectal bleeding for several months. A swollen joint that may be warm to the touch. Do you need to empty your bladder before a CEA test? A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test measures a specific blood glycoprotein called CEA. I have a friend who is dealing with rectal cancer. The opposite is also true. Biotin can affect the results of the test. I hope you are doing good. Hey Dianne, CEA levels decreased, were maintained, or increased by <20% versus baseline in 33 patients, and increased by >20% in 15. Elevated liver enzymes are a product of inflamed or damaged liver cells leaking more than the usual amounts of certain chemicals, including liver enzymes into the bloodstream. GI doc tells me there were some things found but nothing that points to any cancer issues in my small bowel. Transient CEA increase at start of oxaliplatin combination therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". I'm tagging a few other members who may also have experience", "@colleenyoung @diannechildress My CEA has been staying between 1.7 and 2.4 since my colon cancer was". A high level of CEA can be a sign Diabetes, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and colonic polyps were considered as causes of false elevation. ), Betsy (who was diagnosed Stage 4 in 2005 and is still here and off chemo), I finally got down to a 1.8 after the last surgery, then it went to 2, then 2.2, then 2.6, it just kept bumping up. Next steps involve my doctor is consulting with their GI doctor and oncologist . You could test them twice a day and they would be different. CA 19-9 levels decreased, were maintained, or increased by <20% in 39 patients, and increased by >20% in 9. Its what happens when you have been diagnosed with Cancer; especially when it has been a recent diagnosis, like yours. Certain cancers may also cause an increased level of CA 125, including . Elevated circulating CEA levels occur in patients with benign gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders. But this test isnt used in isolation. If you have a blood test, you may have mild pain or bruising where your provider inserted the needle. OTOH the persistent high readings put us in the group with sibstantially increased odds of recurrence. Hello Ginger, Clinical signs and imaging modalities also play a role in the final assessment. Healthcare providers dont use these tests to diagnose cancer. Of clinical importance is the influence of liver disease on the interpretation of CEA. They know a lot more about CEA and other markers than you might guess. There is no need to fast before undergoing a CEA test. Joint pain. I am IV B. All negative. I was diagnosed in 2009 but it was only stage 2. Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support, practical information, and answers. I continued with FOL-FOX and erbitux until April 5th 2017 when oxilplatin was stopped. A coordinator will follow up to see if Mayo Clinic is right for you. CEA elevation; inflammatory response; oxaliplatin. Healthcare providers dont use CEA tests to diagnose cancer. I just had my 1st year colonoscopy this morning, following a clean CT scan. This includes some antibiotics, antacids, and cholesterol medications. I am guessing you have seen this details (based on your knowledge above), but just a bit of support for you. So welcome to the forum. Is it easy to get an internship at Microsoft? 2006 Nov 20;24(33):5313-27. Also, tumor markers aren't useful for everyone. Every colonoscopy he was removing anywhere from 2 to 6 polyps. I asked him how common is it. Are there any risks to the test? Posted by Dianne @diannechildress, May 31, 2017. Pathology comes back Stage 0 appendicial cancer. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. CEA levels can be an indicator of how well cancer is responding to treatment.CEA levels can also rise even when there is no cancer present. Nothing was found during the colonoscopy and my GI doc was about to complete the exam. Stress hormones also induce the proliferation of . What questions or next steps would be reasonable to ask her? The most frequent cancer which causes an increased CEA is cancer of the colon and rectum. Elevated levels of CEA occur when the CEA is higher than 3 ng/mL. Two distinct patterns of CEA rise were observed: a fast rise in which serum concentrations reached 100 microgram/l within 6 months of the first elevation and a slow rise in which concentrations remained less than 75 microgram/l for at least 12 months. Keep us posted. Don't let these numbers frighten you - at this level, they are meaningless, even if they trend up. The most frequent cancer which causes an increased CEA is cancer of the colon and rectum. We did blood screening through the Mayo clinic and they came back that I had a predisposition for polyposis. Your email address will not be published. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Case in point, I mention my oncologist said in his practice 1 in 4 of his patients have exhibited high CEA levels (as high as 20) and not have any cancer as a result. Tumor markers are substances that some cancer cells make and shed into bodily fluids at times. Thus, we suggest that exercise for 2-3 days per week decreases the expression of CEA and improves body condition, without loading fatigue or stress, which may contribute to preventing cancer in the elderly women. A 2019 study, for example, showed that stress hormones can increase the number of pro-tumor immune cells in tumors. Hi Dianne, Does that fit in you case? Are there any false positive CEA test results? False-positive results greater than 15 ng/mL are rare, and all confirmed CEA levels greater than 35 ng/mL were associated with cancer recurrence. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. She will get back to me with what information was shared. J Clin Oncol. Here are mine: I am concerned that after the surgery it was very low, but it is slowly going up within the last 6 months and that this could be a sign of slow tumor growth in my colon where the CT scan is unable to detect. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Mine was low when I was diagnosed - and all through treatment. I hope you can get some rest and time to restore yourself now. What can cause a false positive CEA? CEA is an antigen (small protein) that is found on the surface of colon, rectal, gastric and other types of cancer cells and high levels of CEA can be detected in the blood of some patients with cancer and the developing fetus. The doctor had my blood sent to the Mayo clinic for testing and genetic screening. I am going to see my GP in an hour. My doctors are not worried, but my next colonoscopy will be a year from my surgery date. Talked to my CRC surgeon about what is going on. Acta Oncol. CEA is typically reported in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). It may not be a good indicator for you, either? CEA Levels. It means a protein with a lot of sugars added to it by normal or cancerous cells. "Chronic stress also can help cancer grow and spread in a number of ways," Sood says. Ask oncologist if I need to have a CT scan for this checkup. But my oncologists all tell me the same thing - the stats include the elderly who have other health issues, cancers found at different times and with different ability to deal with them surgically and other factors. After three cycles of chemotherapy, serum CEA and CA 19-9 levels were re-measured. In remission, you may need regular CEA tests to watch for possible recurrences. Locker GY, Hamilton S, Harris J, Jessup JM, Kemeny N, Macdonald JS, Somerfield MR, Hayes DF, Bast RC Jr; ASCO. There is very little risk to having a CEA blood test. It is just one tool in the oncology toolbox. I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009. In contrast, the progression risk appeared to be lower for patients with CEA levels lower than 26.8 ng/mL, but a significance level was not reached. I wish you all the best and negative cancer findings! Copyright 2018, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. Required fields are marked *. After you have a diagnosis, and before you have treatment and/or surgery. It helps to talk with others about their experiences. That's a hard loss at any age. I go in and get CEA done. There was no evidence of disease during this time and he remains disease-free. You may temporarily stop certain medicines or supplements that increase bleeding, like aspirin. Stress also causes an increase in blood sugar, which means the vessels can't dilate or contract to better control blood flow. High CEA levels may also be a sign of some noncancerous conditions, such as cirrhosis, noncancerous breast disease, and emphysema. The first step in treatment is to increase the amount of fluid and . Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. But a rise in CEA level four to six weeks after initiation of therapy doesnt necessarily mean treatment failure, relapse or recurrence. anything to worry as i am very stressed out" Answered by Dr. Myron Arlen: Unrealted: Ca125 is a carbohydrate tumor marker seen in many cases of . Thanks for telling us about the results of the CT scan. Sperling Prostate Center (877) 605-2737. Overtime, that would cause stress on blood vessels. This must be confirmed , as the CEA test by itself is not specific enough to substantiate a recurrence of a cancer. CEA tests are generally safe. Colonoscopy. Before Lots of things can make it go up further than that - and still not be tumor growth. All clear too. Your healthcare provider will help you understand the risks of the test beforehand. I understand completely that when you have had cancer once it is hard to not think that it will reoccur. Healthcare providers dont use the CEA test to screen for or diagnose cancer. That surgery was done January 2016. and transmitted securely. Reply. An elevated CEA may indicate a recurrence of your cancer. A coordinator will follow up to see if Mayo Clinic is right for you. Use an X-ray image to guide the needle to the correct position. Please meet @travelgirl @martid @ilene1 @soul @brglight @nannytart @bush @sallyg @starrlight and @joannem. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. But, with everything, we always advise you to talk to your Oncologist if your worries persest. My oncologist says that they are taught to only watch CEA when it gets above normal. Sensitivity of CEA ranged from 17.4 % to 100 %, specificity ranged from 66.1 % to 98.4 %, positive predictive value ranged from 45.8 % to 95.2% and negative predictive value ranged from 74.5 % to 100 %. Two Cases of Transiently Elevated Serum CEA Levels in Severe Hypothyroidism without Goiter.. PubMed. The nurse doesn't know why the doc wants a new CEA. Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis. Go to the Colorectal Cancer Support Group. Mine was Stage 1 with T2 tumor, 23 lymph nodes with no cancer spread. It is elevated in more than 90% cases of colon and pancreatic cancer, 70% cases of non-small cell lung cancer, and 50% cases of breast cancer. When do you have your next appointment? Your provider then tests it every one to three months during active treatment. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved False-positive results greater than 15 ng/mL are rare, and all confirmed CEA levels greater than 35 ng/mL were associated with cancer recurrence. Can stress raise CEA levels? People with many types of cancers can have levels that are higher than 3 ng/mL. His CEA level increased significantly during oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy and declined to a near normal level after completion of therapy. Alternative Names. In contrast, the progression risk appeared to be lower for patients with CEA levels lower than 26.8 ng/mL, but a significance level was not reached. Consistent with . I agree a better test needs to be developed. How long does it take for CEA to go down? Your increase is very small too, so I would suspect stress might be the issue there.