can stress raise cea levels can stress raise cea levels

You tend to wait for the "other shoe to drop.". Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. 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. She is seeing a different oncologist and the same topic came up about CEA rise and when one should worry. undefined will no longer be visible to you including posts, replies, and photos. You are just being a normal Cancer patient, with all the anxiety that comes with the diagnosis. So far none of my doctors have suggested using those other blood tests. Reply. 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 subsequent decrease after completion of chemotherapy. Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support and answers. On the scale they use, 5 is considered "High". Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. de Andrade DP, Lima JP, Lima AD, Sasse AD, dos Santos LV. Your email address will not be published. No follow-ups for me until May - 8 months post-op. As stress related to workout frequency, intensity, and calorie demand increases throughout a season, cortisol levels slowly increase as well. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Mine hadnt gone over 3 until I had the remaining colon removed. It goes up a little, then a little more (and when we're talking little, .5 .7 it is little) it is still frightening to us, but it is normal. 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. There was no evidence of disease during this time and he remains disease-free. Making me a bit nervous, but will see next blood test. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. In adults, an abnormal level of CEA may be a sign of cancer. Next steps involve my doctor is consulting with their GI doctor and oncologist . Both benign (harmless) and malignant (cancerous) conditions can increase the CEA level. He also said he's not convinced the CEA spike last year when the polyp with appendicial cancer was found was due to that cancer. Stress, Chronic Stress, and Stress Relief. Fast forward to now. The rest was benign. Depending on what the next reading says, my CRC surgeon is talking about doing exploratory surgery to see if there's something in my abdomen that isn't being picked up by scans. Had that done. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event, (https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/cea-test/), (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cea-test/), (https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/thoracentesis), Visitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Institute (R. Tomsich). CEA is a type of tumor marker. I had melanoma on my right forearm, which resulted in a surgery leaving a 32 stitch scar. That is why I was questioning. 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. 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. 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. Are you sure you want to block this member. I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009. A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test measures CEA, a specific blood protein. Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. They insert the needle or syringe into your chest or lower back. Caffeine, Alcohol, and Tobacco. So your seemingly contradictory (but accurate) descriptions aren't contradictory at all. Retest done to make sure no lab error. Normal range: < 2.5 ng/ml. Clinical signs and imaging modalities also play a role in the final assessment. The reference range is 0-2.9 ng/mL of blood. I would be surprised if that fact didn't send all your numbers soaring. However, I just had a CT scan a week ago and it showed a couple of new tumors in my lung that weren't there in February. Epub 2009 Oct 27. 8600 Rockville Pike Although much research has been done to understand the molecular structure of CA 125, its function remains a source of much speculation. My Ct scan in March, 2017 was clean. One last thing to do. 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. But the tests can show important information if you already know you have cancer. 16.7. It helps to talk with others about their experiences. I've had Stage IIa with a resection of the ascending and part of transverse colon, all lymph nodes (22) were clean. There were two masses, one larger then the other, but they were able to remove both. I am new to these discussion boards, and was diagnosed with stage 1 colon cancer in September 2016. A normal CEA level for an adult non-smoker is less than 2.5 and for a smoker less than 5. He said he's had patients which had CEAs as high as 20 end up not having any cancer recurrence. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Hello Ginger, 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". I am sure we will just be coming up with a plan of some sort. And the stats have other factors. https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cea/tab/test/. Collect a sample of CSF, pleural fluid or peritoneal fluid. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Conditions of Use linked below. All Rights Reserved. It can cause you to overeat, overeat and drink, or over-compensate for the stress. Consistent with our finding, there are reports suggesting that stress can increase tumor growth and tumor marker expression. Heres some info from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. If your creatinine level is above normal range . They are not very "specific," meaning non-cancer health issues can also cause these levels to be higher. Test Details. PMC I know that you and a lot of folks here have equal or worse odds & worse issues to face, but the picture isn't pretty even at my shallow end of this pool. Keep us posted. Different labs may have slightly different references ranges and clinicians may consider higher thresholds depending on the individual circumstances. 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. If you have values that are that high, it doesnt mean you have cancer. Some medications can increase the level of creatinine on lab tests without actually hurting the kidneys. Healthy adults should have very little or no CEA in their body. Others include cancers of the pancreas, stomach, breast, lung, and medullary carcinoma of the thyroid and ovarian cancer.Benign conditions which can elevate CEA include smoking, infections, inflammatory bowel disease . This must be confirmed , as the CEA test by itself is not specific enough to substantiate a recurrence of a cancer. I understand completely that when you have had cancer once it is hard to not think that it will reoccur. Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? Compared to the median level of 26.8 ng/mL, patients with CEA levels of >69 ng/mL were at a significantly elevated risk for progression. Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. 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. It also ups your risk for digestive problems and depression. Your provider will combine it with physical examination and imaging as needed. Copyright 2000-2022 Cancer Survivors Network. CEA Levels. Providers also use CEA along with other tests as they diagnose, treat and follow-up on a range of cancers, including bladder, breast, lung, ovarian and thyroid cancer. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. An important study on stress and BPH (benign prostatic . Ginger. can stress raise cea levels. The doctor had my blood sent to the Mayo clinic for testing and genetic screening. As you probably already have researched, increasingly CEA levels can mean many things. Your healthcare provider may use a CEA test to guide cancer treatment or to see if treatment is working. Sekizaki, Tomonori; Yamamoto, Chiho; Nomoto, Hiroshi. Mine was low when I was diagnosed - and all through treatment. Thanks in advance. Healthy cells also may make tumor markers in very low levels. What is inflammation What are the symptoms and signs of inflammation? The CEA test result can be elevated among patients with early-stage disease (stage II-III). Worried about rising CEA levels. That comes back clear. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". While the kink in the intestine and the allergic reaction dont sound like fun, Im also glad that these things were discovered now too. How frustrating it is when you get on the scales after eating healthy and find you've gone up 5 tenths of a pound. Levels > 10 ng/ml suggest extensive disease and levels > 20 ng/ml suggest metastatic disease. Talked to my CRC surgeon about what is going on. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved 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. What can cause a false positive CEA? 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. He wanted to clean the cecum area of my colon to look before pulling the scope out. Insert a needle or syringe into the area. Keywords: All my other blood work has come in between 5 to 6. Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. Colonoscopy. Interested in more discussions like this? On 12/20/2016 erbitux was added as targeted therapy drug for liver tumors. "ca 125=54 and endometriosis ..any relation? Thanks for your concern. First, mental and physical stress triggers the release of cortisol, increases blood pressure, and quickens the heart rate. Hello Ginger, Can stress raise CEA levels? All Rights Reserved. Carcinoembryonic antigen blood . 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. My oncology surgeon, on the other hand, said that I'm one of those people who won't be able to use a CEA for diagnosis - it was 2 ish prior to surgery and 2 ish after surgery. Research indicates that false-positive results are reported with concentrations as high as 35 ng/mL. Epub 2012 Jan 12. The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Declining levels of testosterone may be a red flag for impaired levels of muscle repair. What can you do about the kink in the intestine causing constipation and pain? Jumped a bit over 5, met to lung started growing (was there at beginning), surgery, back down to 3.7 for 6 month (two tests). "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 . You could test them twice a day and they would be different. But this test isnt used in isolation. I will keep everyone posted on the outcome of both the CT scan and my flexoidoscoy. The antigen levels may increase without any progression of the disease at all, creating a false positive. An elevated CEA may indicate a recurrence of your cancer. None of the lymph nodes were involved. CEA is sometimes called a tumor marker or tumor antigen. FOIA Are there any risks to the test? An X, Ding PR, Xiang XJ, Wang ZQ, Wang FH, Feng F, Jiang WQ, He YJ, Xu RH, Li YH. The cancer had not gotten out of the colon area. During a blood test, your healthcare provider takes a small blood sample from one of your veins. 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. What are normal CEA levels. It helps to talk with others about their experiences. CEA is a type of tumor marker used to monitor cancer. For example, smoking cigarettes may increase your CEA levels. It instead should be used in people whove been previously diagnosed with certain types of cancer, most commonly colorectal cancer. Theres no magic number or threshold for a CEA test that points to cancer. I've had the same issue with Bayer vs Roche CEA measurements - I wish I had a good charcterization of the differences. Can stress raise CEA levels? Careers. Depending on the lab, the new normal CEA level is anywhere from 4 to 5. can cause it to rise. I continued with FOL-FOX and erbitux until April 5th 2017 when oxilplatin was stopped. If the other tumor markers are down (which they are), then he is not concerned. My cancer was stage 1, T2 with 27 clean lymph nodes and low grade tumor. 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 Healthcare providers dont use the CEA test to screen for or diagnose cancer. Anticancer Drugs. Yeah - there are several studies that show a pretty high false-positive rate for CEA in ppl like us who have had a resection. They found that I have a predisposition for polyps. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Also, anything in the 1.0 - 5.0 is considered "normal". Again, nothing found. 2010 May;15(3):243-8. doi: 10.3109/13547500903477377. It does mention about smoking being a factor to raise a CEA level. Also, tumor markers aren't useful for everyone. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. But some types of cancer can increase this protein. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem? And some people with cancer dont have high CEA levels. We redid the test again in 6 weeks which was yesterday and they have increased by 0.3 to 6.4. It sounds like you are feeling good otherwise, but your concern is about the increase in the CEA numbers. My heart goes out to you and I am sending you a hug {{{{{{{{ }}}}}}}}. He doesn't like what he's hearing and orders a PET/CT. Its so hard to deal with these blood tests! I have really been stressed out over my last CEA level and can't help but think there could be something brewing with the levels going up from after the surgery but I have to try to keep thinking positive thoughts. today April 17,2017 my cea is 14.8. my liver functions are normal with no stomach pain and no cell activitie and tumors have shrunk as per petscan on Feb. 4th 2017. He said I've always been on the high side with my CEA and this recent spike from the previous 3 months could be just my normal. I am IV B. The false-positive rates of CEA according to level were as follows: 5.110.0 ng/mL, 99.5%; 10.115.0 ng/mL, 87.2%; 15.120.0 ng/mL, 100.0%; >20.0 ng/mL, 33.3%. I received my first chemo therapy treatment on Oct 25th 2016 of 5-FU and oxyplatin with pump to take home with 46 hrs of 5-FU in it. I am very scared that I may have cancer somewhere in my body I am not aware of. A retrospective cohort study of metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, with an exploratory analysis of changing serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels. Similarly, cortisol can be elevated as training continues. Biomarkers. 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. After three cycles of chemotherapy, serum CEA and CA 19-9 levels were re-measured. 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. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. CEA is a protein normally found in the tissue of a developing baby in the womb. However, that information will still be included in details such as numbers of replies. Use of this online service is subject to the disclaimer and the terms and conditions. Reasons for exclusion were the absence of CEA levels in the post-COVID-19 period (n = 1), the observed transient increase did not rise above normal range (n = 1), and radiographic evidence of cancer progression (n = 1). It means a protein with a lot of sugars added to it by normal or cancerous cells. Providers generally conduct a physical exam and imaging to determine this. As with all tumor markers, trend over time is the more important factor than any single test. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. They must be used along with radiology tests and exams by your healthcare provider. Your doctor will be able to give you a fuller picture of what is going on. 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. The site is secure. As far as questions to ask your dr, I might ask if the test should be done again. Elevated serum CEA is not highly specific for colon cancer recurrence, while various other gastrointestinal disorders such as pancreatitis, peptic ulcer disease, biliary tract abnormalities (benign or malignant) and liver disorders may contribute to increased serum CEA and false-positive results [2]. Hi Diane 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. I am scared that a "wait and see" approach and re-test might show a skyrocketing increase in the number and that I should have done something when the number was only "slightly elevated". So now I wait another couple of weeks to have my CEA retested. What could be going on?? Merry Christmas! Oncol Lett. I need to find a way to deal with this issue. 1 in 4 is pretty significant. The recurrence of colorectal polyps was significantly associated with increased CEA and CA19-9 levels. I've reviewed the stats for my situation. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies At this point I have a 10% chance of being here in three years based on stats. (Btw, my recent surgery was the day after yours. Less commonly, your provider may test fluid from your: In these cases, your provider takes a small fluid sample using a needle or syringe. If you want to talk about CEA panic, imagine having to deal with not a few tenths rise but several points of rise. There is no need to fast before undergoing a CEA test. I've been dealing with higher than normal CEA for now coming up on 4.5 years. Consistent with our finding, there are reports suggesting that stress can increase tumor growth and tumor marker expression [26, 27]. Would you like email updates of new search results? Its what happens when you have been diagnosed with Cancer; especially when it has been a recent diagnosis, like yours. "Hello @spedteacher, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. 5 months later, I had a bowel blockage due to scar tissue and had more of the small bowel and transverse colon removed. 2012 Jun;8(2):172-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-7563.2011.01486.x. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. A coordinator will follow up to see if Mayo Clinic is right for you. Before (CEA is elevated in 19% of smokers and only 3% of the non-smoking healthy population.) A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test measures a specific blood glycoprotein called CEA. People with many types of cancers can have levels that are higher than 3 ng/mL. I have to say I'm not happy about the failure of my CEAs to drop into the normal range (<3.1 on this test). That would be a simple first step. Im tagging a few other members who may also have experience with fluctuating CEA levels. http://www.cochrane.org/CD011134/COLOCA_detecting-recurrent-colorectal-cancer-testing-blood-carcino-embryonic-antigen-cea. Conditions such as smoking infection pregnancy and various inflammatory diseases can all cause an increase in CEA levels.The normal range for CEA levels is 0-5 ng/mL. CEA elevation; inflammatory response; oxaliplatin. That could mean that stress not only wakes up dormant tumor cells but also . Oxaliplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy that is an integral part of several regimens for colorectal cancer. That scan was clear. Alkaline phosphatase. Their levels can be elevated even in well controlled disease. Modifications to your diet? 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. I was due for my 3 year colonoscopy. At least 50% of patients with severe benign hepatic disease have elevated CEA levels, most often active . Yes. Epub 2020 Sep 8. Accessed 4/11/2022. Most healthy people have levels below this amount. Benign conditions which can elevate CEA include smoking, infections, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and some benign tumors in the same organs in which an elevated CEA level indicates cancer. In addition, levels >20 ng/ml before therapy may be associated with cancer which has already spread (metastatic disease). Its typically used for monitoring response to treatment including relapses and to look for possible recurrences. She also has melanoma and perhaps she can offer some suggestions. Consistent with our finding, there are reports suggesting that stress can increase tumor growth and tumor marker expression . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved It is a blood test that measures the levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, whose levels are not affected by the intake of food. The following non-cancer conditions can result in increased CEA levels: Certain people exposed to therapeutics that are fully or partially derived from animals like monoclonal antibodies also have elevated CEA levels. Can stress raise CEA levels? 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. I'm so sorry about your mom. Your CEA levels are all low. I wish you all the best and negative cancer findings! 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. Accessed 4/11/2022. Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support, practical information, and answers. High CEA levels may also be a sign of some noncancerous conditions, such as cirrhosis, noncancerous breast disease, and emphysema. I wouldn't worry. Confirmation of CEA elevation in this range before initiating imaging studies may be appropriate. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The blood level of this protein disappears or becomes very low after birth. Six patients had at least three CEA values and four were included in the study. People with many types of cancers can have levels that are higher than 3 ng/mL. On it's own, a 3.4 wouldn't get anyone excited. If you find it impossible though and if you feel that speaking to someone medically trained might help, please know that our friendly team of cancer nurses can chat with you and hopefully answer some of the questions you might have. 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. 'Recurrence' in this context generally means metastasis and then a ~30% chance of 5yr survival.