Could a rising CEA not be cancer?

[myaitalia]

Could a rising CEA level from 5 to 7.2 to 8.2 to now 9.9 in the past 4 months be indicative of an environmental factor rather then cancer? Or is it going to almost always signify cancer at this point; 9.9?

[myaitalia]

I know it is related to these other condition. But I keep reading that a level after at 10 or over on CEA of 10.0 is most often not related to these benign conditions. In the past 4 months it has risen from around 5 to 7.2 to 8.8 to, now, 9.9. I have an ovarian mass that has caused a significant amount of pain and difficulty in my life and progressively gotten worse. I know it's hard to judge but has anyone had the experience of it rising and being free of conditions in cancer. Yes, I had cervical cancer and since had a colectomy, a radical hysterectomy, an oopherectomy and an appendicitis! I have a surgery in July to remove this mass in my adnexal area ( they don't know if it is a part of the ovary or next to! My dr. Is postponing the surgery until we find the cUse for the rise and my first step is to have a Pet/CT scan Friday- will that show any cancer within, so I'll know? Can it pick up ovarian cancer too? Thanks for responding!
Regards, Mya

[Tinabudde]

The CEA is a protein marker for cancer, but there are other things that can raise the levels such as  inflammation, cirrhosis, peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis, rectal polyps, benign breast conditions.  It does not always mean you have cancer and benign tumors that are removed or polyps, ect can cause the levels to go down. Your doctor needs to keep an eye on the levels though if you have had cancer in the past as it could mean something might be starting.