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CEA Levels. Some medications can increase the level of creatinine on lab tests without actually hurting the kidneys. Immediately after diagnosis to help guide your treatment plan (baseline testing). Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Conditions of Use linked below. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Tumor markers can go up and down over time, making it hard to measure them consistently. He said he's had patients which had CEAs as high as 20 end up not having any cancer recurrence. Consistent with our finding, there are reports suggesting that stress can increase tumor growth and tumor marker expression [26, 27]. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. I will keep everyone posted on the outcome of both the CT scan and my flexoidoscoy. Caffeine, Alcohol, and Tobacco. Declining levels of testosterone may be a red flag for impaired levels of muscle repair. What could be going on?? Doctors don't use the CEA test to make a first-time diagnosis of cancer. Forty-three patients (48.9%) experienced CEA fluctuations exceeding 0.5 ng/mL during adjuvant chemotherapy; CEA increases indicated true recurrence in 2 patients (4.7%). 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. Expression levels and clinical significance of miR-203 and miR-133b in laryngeal carcinoma. 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 %. When do you have your next appointment? CEA elevation; inflammatory response; oxaliplatin. What questions or next steps would be reasonable to ask her? Results: Primary resection was associated with significant CEA decline in patients with CRC but not in those with breast cancer. He wanted to clean the cecum area of my colon to look before pulling the scope out. But one thing is for sure and I've seen a paper state this. People with many types of cancers can have levels that are higher than 3 ng/mL. But, with everything, we always advise you to talk to your Oncologist if your worries persest. Strimpakos AS, Cunningham D, Mikropoulos C, Petkar I, Barbachano Y, Chau I. Ann Oncol. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". It means a protein with a lot of sugars added to it by normal or cancerous cells. As far as questions to ask your dr, I might ask if the test should be done again. I would like to invite @gingerw to this discussion. Of course, it may take some time to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. It may not be a good indicator for you, either? From medline.com, here is an article about CEA and when it may be useful https://www.healthline.com/health/cea They are indicators that something might be wrong and so shouldn't be ignored if the numbers spike. Over the next 7 years I was having regular colonoscopies and the doctor removed polyps every time. They insert the needle or syringe into your chest or lower back. In addition, levels >20 ng/ml before therapy may be associated with cancer which has already spread (metastatic disease). As a stageI, there is a ~10% chance of 5yr recurrence, but as a stageI whose CEA never returned to normal (<3), I've got a ~30% chance of recurrence. Just bumped to 4. Thank you for your kind words. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Epub 2009 Oct 27. What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? First, mental and physical stress triggers the release of cortisol, increases blood pressure, and quickens the heart rate. I am guessing you have seen this details (based on your knowledge above), but just a bit of support for you. Before I switched clinics, the lab at this clinic changed assay methods and went with the Roche test. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer which had metastized to my liver on October 2016. Search for: OTOH the persistent high readings put us in the group with sibstantially increased odds of recurrence. Post author: Post published: June 8, 2022 Post category: what happened after mao zedong died Post comments: closing announcement target closing announcement target Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. Colonoscopy. Tumor markers are substances that some cancer cells make and shed into bodily fluids at times. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. Case Report: CEA Elevation Can Be a Marker of Increased Inflammation During Treatment with Oxaliplatin. You may be asked to empty your bladder and bowels before a CSF or peritoneal fluid test. So now I wait another couple of weeks to have my CEA retested. Key takeaways: A high creatinine level on a blood test can be a sign of decreased kidney function or kidney disease. In general, a CEA level of more than 2.9 ng/mL is considered abnormal but doesnt necessarily mean that cancer is present. This has been going on for the past 2 years. Stress also causes an increase in blood sugar, which means the vessels can't dilate or contract to better control blood flow. It does mention about smoking being a factor to raise a CEA level. Bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer and carcino-embryonic antigen kinetics: case report and review of literature. I was diagnosed in 2009 but it was only stage 2. 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. A 2019 study, for example, showed that stress hormones can increase the number of pro-tumor immune cells in tumors. False-positive CEA test results in the range of 5 to 15 ng/mL are common. And some people with cancer dont have high CEA levels. Will you come back and let me know how your appt goes, and how you are doing? Why is the separation of executive legislative and judicial powers necessary? Maybe it's my personality, but I'd strongly prefer to know today - the waiting in ignorance is the harder part. I wish you all the best and negative cancer findings! sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal MeSH Confirmation of CEA elevation in this range before initiating imaging studies may be appropriate. Do you see the paradox in all of this? CEA levels normally become very low or disappear after birth. 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. My cancer was stage 1, T2 with 27 clean lymph nodes and low grade tumor. The CA 27.29 blood test can create false positives for a number of different reasons. Elevated levels are also seen in benign breast disease, cirrhosis, hepatitis, tuberculosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis - and this . 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. Im tagging a few other members who may also have experience with fluctuating CEA levels. I need to find a way to deal with this issue. The normal range for CEA in an adult non-smoker is <2.5 ng/ml and for a smoker <5.0 ng/ml. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 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 %. Use of this online service is subject to the disclaimer and the terms and conditions. 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. 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. Your healthcare provider will tell you how to prepare for a CEA test. Would you like email updates of new search results? They are available on this number 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday, between 9 a.m - 5 p.m. I am 62. Please take care of yourself and let us know how you are doingwe all care, My CEA went up a few points too. . Thank you for any help or advice! What can cause CEA to be elevated? There was no evidence of disease during this time and he remains disease-free. I had 23 lymph nodes removed and all of them were clear, and I also had a CT scan that was good. Complete your request online or contact us by phone. You tend to wait for the "other shoe to drop.". These levels are considered abnormal. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? 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. Thanks in advance. Litvak A, Cercek A, Segal N, Reidy-Lagunes D, Stadler ZK, Yaeger RD, Kemeny NE, Weiser MR, Pessin MS, Saltz L. False-positive elevations of carcinoembryonic antigen in patients with a history of resected colorectal cancer. Conditions that can cause an increase in CA 125 include many that aren't cancerous, such as menstruation and uterine fibroids. 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. 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. So what's going on? Best wishes for everyone else in this situation. Generally, healthcare providers consider typical CEA levels to be between 0 and 2.9 ng/mL. Stress hormones also induce the proliferation of . Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support, practical information, and answers. 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. 16.7. Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? Can stress raise CEA levels? These levels are considered abnormal. Advanced breast cancer support group and discussion community. Although an elevated level of a tumor marker may suggest the presence of cancer, this alone is not enough to . Bookshelf I am IV B. Evaluate how well cancer treatment is working. The impact of carcinoembryonic antigen flare in patients with advanced colorectal cancer receiving first-line chemotherapy. At onset i had Cea level of >4000 ng/ml. Symptoms of inflammation include: Redness. This does help make me feel better. 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. 2018-04-27. What can cause a false positive CEA? The most frequent cancer which causes an increased CEA is cancer of the colon and rectum. In addition, people who smoke cigarettes often have higher than normal CEA levels. (Btw, my recent surgery was the day after yours. Smoking tobacco can increase serum AFP levels. At that time they removed 1/3 of my colon. The antigen levels may increase without any progression of the disease at all, creating a false positive. Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. I am scheduled for my flexoidoscopy on June 19th. I continue to visit my dermatologist every 4-6 months, no additional melanoma has been found.in 11 years. I've never seen any studies or literature discussing post surgery/chemo outcomes with higher CEA baselines. Other Conditions Can Cause Elevated CA 15-3 Levels. Diverticulitis . Your email address will not be published. Cases with CEA 5 ng/mL were majorly in Stage III, whereas those with CEA >5 ng/mL were predominantly in Stage IV. 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. The blood level of this protein disappears or becomes very low after birth. I am new to these discussion boards, and was diagnosed with stage 1 colon cancer in September 2016. Oxaliplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy that is an integral part of several regimens for colorectal cancer. can stress raise cea levels. This causes retention of salt, which increases blood pressure. It also ups your risk for digestive problems and depression. In adults, an abnormal level of CEA may be a sign of cancer. The opposite is also true. He said all along that polyps typically don't cause CEA elevation. Similarly, cortisol can be elevated as training continues. 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). I had 2 follow ups since the surgery. 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. Ginger. 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. to remove more and search for cancer. 2011 Jun;22 Suppl 2:S15-7. Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. 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. They must be used along with radiology tests and exams by your healthcare provider. Of clinical importance is the influence of liver disease on the interpretation of CEA. Confirmation of CEA elevation in this range before initiating imaging studies may be appropriate. In other patients who have positive serum CEA levels at initial surgery, the level becomes negative at the time of recurrence. And one more thing, from my understanding, there are two ways to test your CEA blood results, and one always test a little higher. Go to the Colorectal Cancer Support Group. Can stress raise CEA levels? A singular increase in CEA levels is not significant. Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support and answers. It may also suggest that the cancer has metastasized, or spread, to other parts of your body. What can cause a false positive CEA? We all get caught up in the stats, it is difficult not to when you are dealing with this. Copyright 2000-2022 Cancer Survivors Network. My oncologist doesn't seem to worried and has said so. Six patients had at least three CEA values and four were included in the study. Few people are aware that exercise, especially intense activity, can significantly alter certain laboratory tests. Pathology comes back Stage 0 appendicial cancer. CEA has been a constant bane to me since my initial diagnosis in 2012. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test measures the level of CEA in the blood. 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. Hi everyone. To our knowledge, this is the first published case of oxaliplatin-induced rising CEA level. The recurrence of colorectal polyps was significantly associated with increased CEA and CA19-9 levels. 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). This test isnt an accurate way to screen for it because many other diseases can cause the levels of this protein to rise. Since then my blood work has been done with the Roche test which I only had one CEA test come in just below the normal limit. That would be a simple first step. Retest done to make sure no lab error. A coordinator will follow up to see if Mayo Clinic is right for you. Also, tumor markers aren't useful for everyone. This includes some antibiotics, antacids, and cholesterol medications. Discussion. My follow up is every three months bloodwork and every six months CT scans. Had a lymphedectomy(?) Different labs may have slightly different references ranges and clinicians may consider higher thresholds depending on the individual circumstances. Some forms of CRC are unlikely to be associated with elevated CEA, and also those same types have poor prognosis, however in others types of CRC, elevated CEA does correlate with poorer outcomes and suggests metastitisis to liver or lung (primarily, but others ) . There was nothing to indicate the rise in CEA levels so I go back in 3 months for recheck. I had a CT with contrast done a few weeks prior to meeting up with my oncologist and having the CEA done. 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. Theres no magic number or threshold for a CEA test that points to cancer. So your seemingly contradictory (but accurate) descriptions aren't contradictory at all. 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. 10 Do you need to empty your bladder before a CEA test? People with many types of cancers can have levels that are higher than 3 ng/mL. Normal range may vary somewhat depending on the brand of assay used. Keep us posted Your provider will combine it with physical examination and imaging as needed. That's when my colon shifted and a polyp popped out of my appendix. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. Diabetes, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and colonic polyps were considered as causes of false elevation. Stress, Chronic Stress, and Stress Relief. Thanks for telling us about the results of the CT scan. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Conditions of Use linked below. Policy. "Chronic stress also can help cancer grow and spread in a number of ways," Sood says. and transmitted securely. My doctors are not worried, but my next colonoscopy will be a year from my surgery date. Accessibility Therefore, false-positive results can result in unnecessary radiation exposure, costs, and anxiety. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What. 9 Are there any false positive CEA test results? What is a bad CEA level? 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. I hope you are doing good. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/11/2022. Healthcare providers dont use CEA tests to diagnose cancer. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Levels > 10 ng/ml suggest extensive disease and levels > 20 ng/ml suggest metastatic disease. 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. ), 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. As you are Id be very concerned and trying my best to determine why the CEA levels are raised. Many healthy people have normal level of tumor makers, which is called normal range, reference range or reference interval on lab reports. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), the level of which is known to increase in both patients with gastrointestinal cancers and those with non-neoplastic conditions, is one of the most widely-used tumor markers. Since my CA 15.3 level was 22 the doctor wanted to retest it. Dropped to 3.7. I just found out today (7/26) that by CEA increased to 5.9. 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. 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. 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. All my other blood work has come in between 5 to 6. @colleenyoung @diannechildress My CEA has been staying between 1.7 and 2.4 since my colon cancer was removed b on 1/16. My Ct scan in March, 2017 was clean. Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. Everyone thinks, this was the cause of my CEA spike. ~Ellen. Your provider then tests it every one to three months during active treatment. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) can be higher than the normal range in a blood test for the following reasons: Cancer: It is a tumor marker and raises in the presence of a malignant tumor. CA 19-9 levels decreased, were maintained, or increased by <20% in 39 patients, and increased by >20% in 9. Its so hard to deal with these blood tests! Regarding CA 19-9, five patients had the . Just try not to get too bogged down in them. Both emotional and physical stress can be detrimental to the body in many ways. It's not how low can you go, it's a matter of staying within normal limits (WNL). How Stress Raises Cholesterol. If you have CEA levels this high and you also have symptoms of cancer, it strongly suggests the cancer has not been removed successfully after treatment. He said in his practice he said about 1 in 4 of his patients being tracked with CEA will have high false positives. I guess we'll see if my oncologist is correct in two weeks. My mom passed away last week (July 19th) and the two weeks have been very stressful. Not every pancreatic cancer will cause elevated levels of CA 19-9, and some non-cancerous conditions (like pancreatitis and jaundice) can cause high levels of CA 19-9. Your healthcare provider may use a CEA test to guide cancer treatment or to see if treatment is working. I believe this is called cell apoptosis (sp?). I've had Stage IIa with a resection of the ascending and part of transverse colon, all lymph nodes (22) were clean. What is a high CEA level for stage 3 colon 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. Consistent with our finding, there are reports suggesting that stress can increase tumor growth and tumor marker expression . Also, recent study results suggested that serum CEA levels may be related to insulin resistance or low-grade inflammation. Tumor markers are used to help detect, diagnose, and manage some types of cancer. CEA levels will generally return to normal between one and four months after the cancer has been successfully removed. He prefers not to look at CEA at all for people like me, but the other oncologist is pushing for genetic tests, and suggested I do chemo even though it isn't protocol for my stage. 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. Yes, CEA can increase due to many non-cancer factors including just being stressed/run-down. Dianne, have you had an appointment with your oncologist since receiving the results of this latest test? False-positive CEA test results in the range of 5 to 15 ng/mL are common. That scan was clear. It does mention about smoking being a factor to raise a CEA level. Apparently, when the cancer cell dies, it gives off CEA into the bloodstream, which temporarily makes the measured CEA level rise. Collect a sample of CSF, pleural fluid or peritoneal fluid. can cause it to rise. I asked him how common is it. My perioperative CEA was 5.8 (August 2016, non-smoker). . Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. After three cycles of chemotherapy, serum CEA and CA 19-9 levels were re-measured. He doesn't like what he's hearing and orders a PET/CT. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Biomarkers. This test isn't an accurate way to screen for it because many other diseases can cause the levels of this protein to rise . In some patients, the serum CEA level becomes positive in the absence of recurrence. Copyright 2018, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved. Epub 2020 Sep 8. I am very scared that I may have cancer somewhere in my body I am not aware of. 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 . On 12/20/2016 erbitux was added as targeted therapy drug for liver tumors. Mine was Stage 1 with T2 tumor, 23 lymph nodes with no cancer spread. This test isnt an accurate way to screen for it because many other diseases can cause the levels of this protein to rise. Drinking a lot of caffeine from coffee or green tea can also affect some blood test results. Stress is bad for you too. "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 . ASCO 2006 update of recommendations for the use of tumor markers in gastrointestinal cancer. Probably not until next week bc my doctor will be out of the office the rest of the week. Should I go get a colonoscopy?? However, serum CEA levels fluctuate over time even in the same individuals. How long does it take for CEA to return to normal? Key Takeaways: Tumor markers are substances found in the blood. government site. 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. 2006 Nov 20;24(33):5313-27. 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 {{{{{{{{ }}}}}}}}. Confirmation of CEA elevation in this range before initiating imaging studies may be appropriate. https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cea/tab/test/. After completion of cancer treatment to check if cancer has returned (recurrence). I've reviewed the stats for my situation. http://www.cochrane.org/CD011134/COLOCA_detecting-recurrent-colorectal-cancer-testing-blood-carcino-embryonic-antigen-cea. 2004;43(5):495-8. doi: 10.1080/02841860410032380. A normal level of CEA is less than or equal to 3 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). 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. During a blood test, your healthcare provider takes a small blood sample from one of your veins. These levels are considered abnormal. If you want to talk about CEA panic, imagine having to deal with not a few tenths rise but several points of rise. It is a blood test that measures the levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, whose levels are not affected by the intake of food. 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. GI doc tells me there were some things found but nothing that points to any cancer issues in my small bowel. Don't let these numbers frighten you - at this level, they are meaningless, even if they trend up. There's lots of scientific research to prove it. Two Cases of Transiently Elevated Serum CEA Levels in Severe Hypothyroidism without Goiter.. PubMed. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted In addition to the CEA coming up, I have an MRI Enterography coming up to add to the marathon testing check box. 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. I have annual CT scans and colonoscopy every 2 years (because of reoccuring polyps). At present, CA 125 is most commonly used in the diagnosis of epithelial non-mucinous ovarian . CEA levels may be high in connection with a number of conditions. Your healthcare provider may use a CEA test to guide cancer treatment or to see if treatment is working. It can cause you to overeat, overeat and drink, or over-compensate for the stress. If your CEA is 30 or above, it's pretty much a certainty there is something going on. All should be well. Truth is of course, that your CEA, like your weight, can fluctuate for no reason at all. I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009. Our findings clearly indicated that immobilization stress results in enhanced serum CEA level whether the stress is acute or chronic. It does not store any personal data. I am ER+, PR+ and HER2 Neg. Back in 2009, I had stage 3 melanoma with a 2% penetration into one lymph node.