When you were undergoing treatment for cancer, your doctor may have asked you to do a test called CEA. You may have been a little scared when you heard this name. You may have wondered, 'What kind of test is this? Why is this being done?' Don't worry, it's normal. Today, we'll answer all the questions you have about the CEA test, and we'll talk about it very simply.
What is the CEA test simply?
Simply put, CEA is a special type of protein found in our blood. Its full name is Carcinoembryonic Antigen . When we are all born, we have very high levels of this CEA protein in our bodies. As we get older, this level decreases.
However, in some conditions, especially some types of cancer, CEA levels in the blood start to rise again. Therefore, doctors use it as an important "marker" in cancer treatment.
Why does the doctor use this test?
This is the most important thing. The CEA test is used for three main reasons.
- Check if the treatment is successful: Check to see if the cancer treatments you are receiving, such as `(Chemotherapy)`, `(Immunotherapy)`, or `(Radiation Therapy),` are working properly and are reducing the number of cancer cells.
- Check for cancer recurrence: After treatment is complete, check for cancer recurrence.
- See if the cancer has spread: Assess whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (Metastatic Cancer).
But keep this in mind: A CEA test alone cannot tell for sure whether you have cancer. That is, it is not used as a screening test. It is only useful when treating someone who has already been diagnosed with cancer.
How do you do this test?
This is often done with a very simple blood test. A small sample of blood is taken from a vein in your arm and the lab tests it for CEA levels. It's just like a regular blood test, and it takes less than five minutes.
However, very rarely, liquids from other sources may also be tested. For example:
- From the abdominal cavity
- From the chest
- Around the spine
In this case, the doctor will administer a local anesthetic and use a small needle to take the fluid sample. This can take about 30 minutes.
Your doctor will ask you to do this CEA test periodically. The reason for this is that it is more important to see whether this value decreases or increases over time than to see the result at one time. For example, you may be asked to do this every month during treatment. You may be asked to do this every three to six months after treatment.
How do you understand the test results?
When looking at CEA results, your doctor will look for patterns that change over time. If your CEA level gradually decreases over the course of your treatment, it means that your treatment is working and your cancer is under control. That's a good sign. But if your CEA level continues to rise , it could mean that your cancer is growing or not responding well to treatment.
CEA is usually measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Let's take a quick look at these levels.
| CEA level | Normal value (ng/mL) | What can be read from this? |
|---|---|---|
| Normal level | Between 0 - 3 ng/mL. (Can be normal up to 5 ng/mL in smokers) | Considered a healthy level. |
| Slightly Elevated | Greater than 3 ng/mL but less than 10 ng/mL | It may be due to a small, localized cancer or another non-cancerous condition. |
| High level (High) | Above 10 ng/mL but below 20 ng/mL | It could be a sign of an early stage of cancer. |
| Very High | Above 20 ng/mL | It can often be a sign that the cancer is spreading to other parts of the body. |
Remember, these values can vary slightly from lab to lab, so it's best to discuss your report with your doctor.
Does cancer have to be the cause of an elevated CEA level?
No, not at all. This is a common misconception. There are many other health conditions that can cause an elevated CEA level, other than cancer. That's why the CEA test is not used to diagnose cancer.
Here are some other non-cancerous conditions that can raise CEA:
- Smoking: A smoker's CEA level is naturally higher than that of a healthy person.
- Gastritis and ulcers in the stomach
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Liver diseases (Cirrhosis, Fatty Liver)
- Diabetes
- Intestinal diseases (Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis)
- Hemorrhoids
- Infections such as pneumonia
So don't worry if your CEA level is a little high. Your doctor will find out exactly what's causing it.
Are there any risks with this test?
The CEA test is generally a very safe test .
When blood is drawn, there may be a slight soreness, bruising, or bruising where the needle was inserted. This will go away in a few hours or a day.
If you have fluid taken from your chest or back, there is a very small risk. This means things like bleeding and infection. But these are very rare. You may feel dizzy or have a headache.
Your doctor will explain all of this to you before the test, so there's no reason to be afraid.
Take-Home Message
- The CEA test is not a test to detect cancer. It is used to monitor the success of treatment and the status of the disease in someone who has already been diagnosed with cancer.
- What is more important than the CEA value at one time is the pattern of whether that value decreases or increases over time.
- Even if your CEA level is high, it doesn't always mean you have cancer. It can also be elevated due to other simple reasons, such as smoking and gastritis.
- Don't panic just by looking at the values on your test report. Always talk to your doctor about it and follow his advice.
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