CEA can be a very good marker ... for some folks with some tumors.
CEA can be false positive for a LOTTA reasons which have been enumerated here many times = basically ANY inflammation in the body .. especially thoracic.
CEA can / will increase after tumors get nuked with treatments.
CEA is useless for many folks = ME ! ... so I have alternate markers done as well, 'cos Oncs STILL luvs their CEAs !
CEA trends are often considered more informative than single lab values .. in the absence of OTHER corroborating information.
Most follow up protocols would require a repeat in about 4 weeks or so to validate the initial result.
Most Oncs would then consider alternate markers and/or imagings to SEE what is going on
in the PATIENT ... not just in the lab tests, IF the result is still elevated.
Increase from April 2016 to Feb 2017 is not likely due to treatments ... SO you should push your Oncs to get to the bottom of this
.... BUTT please remember that the winter sees a lotta flu/coughs/colds etc. ... AND thoracic causes of any inflammation are probably the Numero UNO reason for false CEA elevations.
You can worry until the retest OR continue to live your life.
Either way you cannot change what is on the test result ... only waste your time worrying
The main point is that if the docs need to be concerned, then they have their marching orders for you and they NEED to follow up, which they will.
One day
one step at a time
it is all we sometimes have control over
HOW we deal with WHAT we need to deal with
Harmony on the Journey
CRguy