What Is the CEA Test?

Articles OnCancer Diagnosis

 Tests for Diagnosing Cancer

 Lymph Node Biopsy
 Bone Biopsy
 CT Scan
 FISH Test
 CEA Test

Doctors don’t always see obvious signs of cancer growth after a diagnosis. They need to hunt
for clues. One way they can do that is with a carcinoembryonic antigen test. It measures a
protein called CEA in the blood.

People with some types of cancers have higher than normal levels of this substance. This test
helps your doctor find out if yours has grown and whether your treatment has worked.

What Can the Test Do?

CEA is a type of protein in the body. Babies in the womb have high levels of it. After birth,
levels drop way down. Healthy adults have a very low level, but some types of cancer can
cause it to rise.

Your doctor can use CEA as a “marker” to learn more about your cancer.

The test can often help predict whether the cancer is growing or spreading to other parts of
your body. It can also help tell how well your treatment has worked and predict your outlook.

Your doctor might give you a CEA test if you're diagnosed with one of these cancers:

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 Bladder
 Breast
 Colon and/or rectal
 Lung
 Ovarian
 Pancreatic
 Stomach
 Thyroid

When Is the Test Done?