Hashis and CEA

[brilliantbobbie]

Anyone know if there's a link between Hashimoto's / hypothyroidism and increased CEA levels. I've just finished treatment for bowel cancer and my CEA has gone up but hoping it's due to underactive thyroid/inflammation (my GGT is also raised, to 54) rather than a recurrence! x

[humanbean]

You'll have to explain what CEA is.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to humanbean]

I didn't know anything of CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen). Having done a little reading, I found the interrelationship between CEA and thyroid extremely confusing.

Afraid it looks as if this is a question which is, really, beyond being answered here. Especially as the consequences of poor advice could be serious.

However, we can hope that some members might be able to pass on their experiences.

Wishing you all the best and do continue asking whatever you need.

For those (like me) who do not know about CEA, see these links:

nhs.uk/conditions/cea-test/

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carci...

[brilliantbobbie in reply to helvella]

Yep totally understand - really only reaching out to the very limited amount of people who may know / have personal experience, just in case! I so appreciate you both taking the time to respond

[EMBoy]

Hi brilliantbobbie,

If you Google "CEA and hypothyroidism", you'll find a number of scientific articles that suggest a link between raised CEA levels and hypothyroidism. It seems that levels of CEA drop when thyroid levels return to normal with treatment.

Conversely, GGT levels seem to be reduced in hypothyroidism.

However, as helvella says, it is a complicated subject so if you want to know more about this, you might be better off discussing it with an endocrinologist.

[brilliantbobbie]

Yep, this is what's confusing me as I'm on levo but don't know what my thyroid levels are because I went severely hypo during chemo so they doubled my levo dose but then went severely hyper so now we've settled somewhere in the middle dosage-wise but I haven't had my bloods taken since then so no idea where I'm at. Thanks so much for responding, I may well see an endocrinologist actually! Much appreciated.