Description
A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test measures the amount of CEA protein in your blood. CEA is a tumor marker, or a substance that can be produced by cancer cells or normal cells in response to cancer. A CEA test is used to:
- Learn more about a cancer after it's been diagnosed
- Check how well cancer treatment is working
- See if cancer has returned after treatment
- When to get a CEA: A CEA test is not used to screen for or diagnose cancer. It should only be done if you've already been diagnosed with cancer.
- What CEA levels mean: CEA levels can increase in both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions. High CEA levels can indicate the presence of cancer, but they can also be associated with poorer survival rates. CEA levels can also change over time and can indicate how well treatment is working or if cancer has returned.
Fasting not required.
