They are indicators that something might be wrong and so shouldn't be ignored if the numbers spike. A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test measures CEA, a specific blood protein. After three cycles of chemotherapy, serum CEA and CA 19-9 levels were re-measured. Interested in more discussions like this? Are there any risks to the test? 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. I also had routine colonoscopies when I turned 50(completely clear) and 60( removed benign polups. These levels are considered abnormal. This must be confirmed , as the CEA test by itself is not specific enough to substantiate a recurrence of a cancer. CEA decreases as you get older, but some conditions, including certain types of cancer, can increase your blood CEA levels. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What. Should I go get a colonoscopy?? Pathology report was clean. Use an X-ray image to guide the needle to the correct position. The testing I mentioned in my first post in this topic was all done in a 2 week span. Maybe it's my personality, but I'd strongly prefer to know today - the waiting in ignorance is the harder part. 2012 Jun;8(2):172-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-7563.2011.01486.x. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. It's like running a fever, or having a high white blood count, etc. It does mention about smoking being a factor to raise a CEA level. Posted by Dianne @diannechildress, May 31, 2017. Certain types of cancer can increase your CEA levels, but you can have high CEA without having cancer. CEA is a protein normally found in the tissue of a developing baby in the womb. Had that done. Merry Christmas! For the study, a CEA flare was defined as a 15% rise from baseline (at least 4 ug/L), followed by a subsequent 15% decrease from baseline in CEA level within four to six weeks of initial treatment. Two Cases of Transiently Elevated Serum CEA Levels in Severe Hypothyroidism without Goiter.. PubMed. Over the next 7 years I was having regular colonoscopies and the doctor removed polyps every time. as long as 4/29/2017 petscan is good,blood levels remain good, and liver functions remain normal, and tumors are shrinking the plan is erbitux every 2 weeks as maintenance as long as necessary. I can certainly understand your concern about the increase", "@spedteacher At the request of @hopeful33250 I am responding to you. But a rise in CEA level four to six weeks after initiation of therapy doesnt necessarily mean treatment failure, relapse or recurrence. The fact is that stress is bad for you. The study, which followed 96 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), found that those who felt more stress and anxiety about about their condition also had a higher volume of cancer cells in their blood and higher blood levels of markers for advanced disease. And one more thing, from my understanding, there are two ways to test your CEA blood results, and one always test a little higher. Welcome to the forums, sorry you have to be here, but this is a good place with good people. I did find out I am allergic to the dye they use for the scan. Can stress raise CEA levels? 1 in 4 is pretty significant. Consistent with our finding, there are reports suggesting that stress can increase tumor growth and tumor marker expression . CEA levels that start low and later increase can point to cancer that has come back after a patient has completed treatment. J Clin Oncol. All my other blood work has come in between 5 to 6. It can cause you to overeat, overeat and drink, or over-compensate for the stress. 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. Providers generally conduct a physical exam and imaging to determine this. Also, other things going on in the body can influence the CEA results. I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009. High CEA levels dont necessarily mean you have cancer. I am going to see my GP in an hour. Scientists first discovered CEA in 1968 when they isolated extracts of liver metastasized by colorectal cancer and also from normal fetal digestive tract. Has anyone experienced fluctuation in their results? . Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. Clinical signs and imaging modalities also play a role in the final assessment. Although more studies are necessary when it comes to caffeine, there is a chance that this substance can alter blood glucose levels and temporarily increase them. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. We all ride that roller coaster one way or another, but your numbers seem great to me, so try to relax..Dave. I continue to visit my dermatologist every 4-6 months, no additional melanoma has been found.in 11 years. 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. CEA levels will generally return to normal between one and four months after the cancer has been successfully removed. 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. For example, smoking cigarettes may increase your CEA levels. Reply. Required fields are marked *. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I've never seen any studies or literature discussing post surgery/chemo outcomes with higher CEA baselines. This must be confirmed , as the CEA test by itself is not specific enough to substantiate a recurrence of a cancer. But, with everything, we always advise you to talk to your Oncologist if your worries persest. 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. Both benign (harmless) and malignant (cancerous) conditions can increase the CEA level. Serum CEA levels fluctuate over time in healthy individuals, and the intraindividual variation has been reported to be about 30% . For the study, a CEA flare was defined as a 15% rise from baseline (at least 4 ug/L), followed by a subsequent 15% decrease from baseline in CEA level within four to six weeks of initial treatment. 2018-04-27. In addition, people who smoke cigarettes often have higher than normal CEA levels. The recurrence of colorectal polyps was significantly associated with increased CEA and CA19-9 levels. At least 50% of patients with severe benign hepatic disease have elevated CEA levels, most often active . My Ct scan in March, 2017 was clean. In many documents, they state well differentiated tumor cells express a lot of CEA. As far as questions to ask your dr, I might ask if the test should be done again. Six patients had at least three CEA values and four were included in the study. That scan was clear. 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. Stress, Chronic Stress, and Stress Relief. I recently had a blood test for a life insurance company to see if I would qualify for coverage. Use of this online service is subject to the disclaimer and the terms and conditions. I am sure we will just be coming up with a plan of some sort. That would be a simple first step. On top of that, stress also contains tumor-growth-promoting factors, which elevate cancer biomarkers like CEA. Keep us posted. What questions or next steps would be reasonable to ask her? Can stress raise CEA levels? Careers. 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 first step in treatment is to increase the amount of fluid and . His serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level at the time of diagnosis was 4.6 ng/ml. "When under constant stress, you have persistent high levels in cortisol and other stress hormones. Levels of CEA higher than 20 ng/mL are considered very high. She also has melanoma and perhaps she can offer some suggestions. They found that I have a predisposition for polyps. Coming to a Cleveland Clinic location?Hillcrest Cancer Center check-in changesCole Eye entrance closingVisitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information, Notice of Intelligent Business Solutions data eventLearn more. CEA does not tell you what is going on, only that something might be going on and might be worth checking out. Due to the elevated CEA nd my past history, GI doc agrees to move up the colonoscopy that was supposed to be during the summer; one year from when we found the appendicial cancer. How frustrating it is when you get on the scales after eating healthy and find you've gone up 5 tenths of a pound. This does help make me feel better. A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test measures a specific blood glycoprotein called CEA. A CEA test measures your levels of CEA. A high level of CRP in the blood is a marker of inflammation. Yeah - there are several studies that show a pretty high false-positive rate for CEA in ppl like us who have had a resection. "While we know that CEA levels can help identify patients with potentially resectable disease, this study should help make clinicians aware of the fact that the likelihood of a recurrence depends on the level of CEA elevation and whether or not . If you have a blood test, you may have mild pain or bruising where your provider inserted the needle. @spedteacher At the request of @hopeful33250 I am responding to you. It is a red flag if the CEA remains elevated after surgery, possibly indicating residual disease, ie, cancer that was not removed. Consistent with our finding, there are reports suggesting that stress can increase tumor growth and tumor marker expression [26, 27]. I believe this is called cell apoptosis (sp?). @colleenyoung @diannechildress My CEA has been staying between 1.7 and 2.4 since my colon cancer was removed b on 1/16. Doctors dont use the CEA test to make a first-time diagnosis of cancer. Less commonly, your provider may test fluid from your: In these cases, your provider takes a small fluid sample using a needle or syringe. Thanks in advance. It may also suggest that the cancer has metastasized, or spread, to other parts of your body. It can be caused by a wide variety of conditions, from infection to cancer. Their levels can be elevated even in well controlled disease. So what's going on? Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. High CEA levels may also be a sign of some noncancerous conditions, such as cirrhosis, noncancerous breast disease, and emphysema. The cancer had not gotten out of the colon area. Although I feel fortunate that my cancer was caught early, I still have worries about my CEA blood tests and it is causing me anxiety. doi: 10.1097/01.cad.0000398728.45590.11. Since my CA 15.3 level was 22 the doctor wanted to retest it. 8600 Rockville Pike But I've NEVER had a CEA below 1.0. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 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. "Chronic stress also can help cancer grow and spread in a number of ways," Sood says. Diverticulitis . The level of a tumor maker may not go up until after the cancer is advanced. CEA is a blood glycoprotein. In adults, an abnormal level of CEA may be a sign of cancer. Strimpakos AS, Cunningham D, Mikropoulos C, Petkar I, Barbachano Y, Chau I. Ann Oncol. (CEA is elevated in 19% of smokers and only 3% of the non-smoking healthy population.) PMC You may not get an answer on the 19th itself, but hopefully shortly thereafter. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The most frequent cancer which causes an increased CEA is cancer of the colon and rectum. Consistent with our finding, there are reports suggesting that stress can increase tumor growth and tumor marker expression [26, 27]. CR.I'm so sorry about your Mom even if you didn't have cancer that would have been so stressful to go through but you have mets to cope with on top of losing one of the most important people in your life. Had a CEA of 2.89 in Feb and then in May it was 4.8, but as I found out, a different lab with a different method, so even though I can't compare the two - I am trying to deal with the stress. Also, tumor markers aren't useful for everyone. That could mean that stress not only wakes up dormant tumor cells but also . Both emotional and physical stress can be detrimental to the body in many ways. It is concluded that a rise in CEA to greater than 8 ng/ml indicates with high degree of certainty relapse or disease progression in colorectal cancer patients. First, I'm not sure that 3 weeks is enough time to wait between tests to see if there is a trend. Your physician may decide on the frequency of testing. A singular increase in CEA levels is not significant. None of the lymph nodes were involved. Also, recent study results suggested that serum CEA levels may be related to insulin resistance or low-grade inflammation. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test measures the level of CEA in the blood. If you have values that are that high, it doesnt mean you have cancer. Avoid consuming biotin (an ingredient in many multi-vitamins pills) for up to 72 hours prior to the test. Diabetes, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and colonic polyps were considered as causes of false elevation. There are many factors other than cancer that can cause fluctuations in your CEA; general inflammation for one. Best wishes for everyone else in this situation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved Can stress raise CEA levels? I was diagnosed in 2009 but it was only stage 2. Typically AFP increases by about 10% as the result of smoking tobacco. MeSH Consistent with our finding, there are reports suggesting that stress can increase tumor growth and tumor marker expression. My doctor just keeps telling me no to worry but the bottom line is there is nothing they can do until they see something on a CT scan. Long story short about that is biopsies said high grade dysplasia. Does anyone have a similar experience to this? OTOH the persistent high readings put us in the group with sibstantially increased odds of recurrence. I know that I am in a good place as far as cancer goes and I feel very lucky to be here. Keywords: This type of no-end-in-sight stress can weaken your immune system, leaving you prone to diseases like cancer. In other patients who have positive serum CEA levels at initial surgery, the level becomes negative at the time of recurrence. That's a hard loss at any age. Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis. I just starting to comprehend all this and dont understand all of it but as long as blood levels are good and liver functions are normal. Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. An X, Ding PR, Xiang XJ, Wang ZQ, Wang FH, Feng F, Jiang WQ, He YJ, Xu RH, Li YH. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Elevated circulating CEA levels occur in patients with benign gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders. Healthcare providers dont use these tests to diagnose cancer. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. We did colonoscopies for almost 7 years and my gastroenterologist decided that we should remove the remainder of the colon to eliminate any further polyps. Everyone thinks, this was the cause of my CEA spike. The stats are older, with a few years behind where current techniques and treaments are. A normal level of CEA is less than or equal to 3 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Epub 2012 Jan 12. I continued with FOL-FOX and erbitux until April 5th 2017 when oxilplatin was stopped. Regarding CA 19-9, five patients had the . Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Conditions of Use linked below. Modifications to your diet? Policy. This number makes me very nervous but it is really only another tool and I have found other things can cause it to rise like a dental infection or even a sinus infection so I try my best not to get too anxious when there is a spike upwards Hi Dianne, I know that it's good to stay on top of changes, but I wonder about the damage that having this type of stress does. Tumor markers are substances that are either made by cancer or made by the body in response to cancer. During a blood test, your healthcare provider takes a small blood sample from one of your veins. We postulate that this patient's rising CEA level was secondary to an inflammatory response to oxaliplatin-based therapy, which is further supported by the . And the cancerous polyp I had was in situ with only the surface of the polyp having cancerous cells. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. A high level of CEA can be a sign of certain types of cancers. Stress hormones can inhibit a process called anoikis, which kills diseased cells and . Inject your lower back or chest with numbing medicine (local anesthesia). Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support and answers. I would be surprised if that fact didn't send all your numbers soaring. Non-Cancerous Reasons for Elevated Levels of Ca-15-3 include Liver disease (cirrhosis, hepatitis), lupus, sarcoid, tuberculosis, non-cancerous breast lesions, endometriosis, hypothyroidism and pelvic inflammatory disease. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. I hope you have someone in your life holding your hand right now and helping you get through this traumatic time. Here we go again. It sounds like you are feeling good otherwise, but your concern is about the increase in the CEA numbers. I have mets to only my bones and I have been on Femara and Xgeva for almost 2 years. CEA levels may be high in connection with a number of conditions. Taking baby steps as I continue to monitor my health, which, seems to be just fine. An official website of the United States government. This causes retention of salt, which increases blood pressure. I hope you can get some rest and time to restore yourself now. I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in jan 2015 I just found out today (7/26) that by CEA increased to 5.9. The recurrence of colorectal polyps was significantly associated with increased CEA and CA19-9 levels. 5 months later, I had a bowel blockage due to scar tissue and had more of the small bowel and transverse colon removed. It statistically suggest a much higher probability of recurrence. An elevated CEA may indicate a recurrence of your cancer. That's when my colon shifted and a polyp popped out of my appendix. Just try not to get too bogged down in them. I'm planning to stop seeing the oncologist all together and stick with my onc surgeon, gastroenterologist and family doctor because I can't live my life with no answers. Of course, it may take some time to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. CEA doesnt necessarily tell you whether you have cancer and providers dont use it to screen for cancer. The antigen levels may increase without any progression of the disease at all, creating a false positive. I stopped having it checked in 2013 as it was not a good indicator for me. 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. At present, CA 125 is most commonly used in the diagnosis of epithelial non-mucinous ovarian . This changed the scale for what was considered normal. Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. 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. Does that fit in you case? But the tests can show important information if you already know you have cancer. CA 15-3 levels can also be elevated in healthy people, as well as in people with other cancers such as lung, pancreas, colon, ovary, or prostate. Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support, practical information, and answers. As with all tumor markers, trend over time is the more important factor than any single test. Will you come back and let me know how your appt goes, and how you are doing? Tumor marker levels may be higher when there is cancer in the body. ~Ellen. Discussion. Few people are aware that exercise, especially intense activity, can significantly alter certain laboratory tests. Its the same with CEA. Well be thinking of you on the 19th, Dianne. Inflammation can affect tumor development and progression in addition to the response to therapy. Advanced breast cancer support group and discussion community. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Confirmation of CEA elevation in this range before initiating imaging studies may be appropriate. So your seemingly contradictory (but accurate) descriptions aren't contradictory at all. Consistent with our finding, there are reports suggesting that stress can increase tumor growth and tumor marker expression [26, 27]. 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 . Is it normal for CEA levels to fluctuate? Yes. Epub 2009 Oct 27. I am guessing you have seen this details (based on your knowledge above), but just a bit of support for you. I had melanoma on my right forearm, which resulted in a surgery leaving a 32 stitch scar. Cancer antigen 125 (also known as carbohydrate antigen 125 or CA 125) is an antigen first identified by Bast et al. He said all along that polyps typically don't cause CEA elevation. Is that right? What a relief that the CEA levels are not on the rise. 2014 Jun;12(6):907-13. Your increase is very small too, so I would suspect stress might be the issue there. Yes, CEA can increase due to many non-cancer factors including just being stressed/run-down. Can stress raise CEA levels? I had 2 follow ups since the surgery. A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test measures CEA, a specific blood protein. "Hello @spedteacher, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I was statge I crc, had a partial colectomy . The lowest it dropped to was 3.11 when the clinic I went to used a lab that did the Siemans/Bayer assay test that had 0-3 as normal for non smokers and up to 5 for smokers. You are just being a normal Cancer patient, with all the anxiety that comes with the diagnosis. Many healthy people have normal level of tumor makers, which is called normal range, reference range or reference interval on lab reports. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer which had metastized to my liver on October 2016. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! The most frequent cancer which causes an increased CEA is cancer of the colon and rectum. I have annual CT scans and colonoscopy every 2 years (because of reoccuring polyps). He said he's had patients which had CEAs as high as 20 end up not having any cancer recurrence. 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. We redid the test again in 6 weeks which was yesterday and they have increased by 0.3 to 6.4. Ok. The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). False-positive CEA test results in the range of 5 to 15 ng/mL are common. Collect a sample of CSF, pleural fluid or peritoneal fluid. My mom passed away last week (July 19th) and the two weeks have been very stressful. Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. Biomarkers. Mine was Stage 1 with T2 tumor, 23 lymph nodes with no cancer spread. That comes back clear. 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. When the body experiences high levels of chronic stress, it releases more cortisol, the primary stress hormone.A higher serum cortisol level causes the body to decrease insulin secretion. Apparently, when the cancer cell dies, it gives off CEA into the bloodstream, which temporarily makes the measured CEA level rise. During cancer treatment, to see how well treatments like. Accessed 4/11/2022. Levels > 10 ng/ml suggest extensive disease and levels > 20 ng/ml suggest metastatic disease. I wish you the best sorry I couldnt help with any additional information. Keep us posted What is inflammation What are the symptoms and signs of inflammation? Confirmation of CEA elevation in this range before initiating imaging studies may be appropriate. My CEA levels were within normal ranges but it turned out I have stage III rectal cancer so it doesnt always match up. FOIA Had a lymphedectomy(?) I am very scared that I may have cancer somewhere in my body I am not aware of. It means a protein with a lot of sugars added to it by normal or cancerous cells. He recommended that I have the reminder of my colon removed and attache the small intestine to the rectum. Your increase is very small too, so I would suspect stress might be the issue there. Cleveland Clinics Robert J. Tomsich Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Institute touches virtually every patient at Cleveland Clinic and thousands of patients across the world. My CEA number from the recent blood test showed my CEA to be 4.9(which the company puts an average range of 0.2.5 or up to 3.0. Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. Alkaline phosphatase. I will keep everyone posted on the outcome of both the CT scan and my flexoidoscoy. When my CEA went from .5 to .6 I about freaked out. Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? People with many types of cancers can have levels that are higher than 3 ng/mL. CEA tests of other body fluids usually take 30 minutes or less. As far as questions to ask your dr, I might ask if the test should be done again. As far as my statement about doctors and medical scientist not knowing the correlations between the grade of tumor cells and CEA, I still believe this. Your healthcare provider may use a CEA test to guide cancer treatment or to see if treatment is working. Colonoscopy. False-positive CEA elevations have been reported to occur in smokers and in patients with nonmalignant conditions, including gastrointestinal disease (eg, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, liver disease, diverticulitis, hepatitis, peptic ulcers, biliary obstruction, cirrhosis), lung disease (eg, chronic A rising CEA level indicates progression or recurrence of the cancer. Its what happens when you have been diagnosed with Cancer; especially when it has been a recent diagnosis, like yours. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help But then they turn around and say high CEA numbers prior to surgery is a prognostic indicator of higher chances of recurrence and lower 5 year survivability rates. Other than the appendicial cancer caught last year considered a new primary, I was thinking when I past 3 years I could start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. The blood level of this protein disappears or becomes very low after birth. Before I switched clinics, the lab at this clinic changed assay methods and went with the Roche test. Random effect model results demonstrated that patients with severe COVID-19 group had significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-2R (IL-2R), serum amyloid A (SAA) and neutrophil-to- , Your email address will not be published. Chest fluid tests have a small risk of: Most people dont experience complications of a CEA test. The .gov means its official. I am 62. 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. Thoughts? It does not store any personal data. Tumor markers can go up and down over time, making it hard to measure them consistently.