Health Information
Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)
Why It Is Done
The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test is used to:
- Find how widespread cancer is for some types of the disease, especially colon cancer.
- Check the success of
treatment for colon cancer.
- CEA levels may be measured both before and after surgery to evaluate both the success of the surgery and the person's chances of recovery.
- CEA levels may be measured during treatment with medicines to destroy cancer cells (Reference chemotherapy Opens New Window). This provides information about how well the treatment is working.
- Check to see if cancer has returned after treatment.
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