CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen)

Specialist

also —

What it isA protein produced during fetal development that some cancers — particularly colorectal — re-express in adulthood.

DoesMonitors treated colorectal cancer for recurrence; not a screening test.

GoodLow CEA in someone with treated colorectal cancer signals disease control.

BadRising CEA in treated colorectal cancer flags recurrence; also rises in smokers, IBD, and benign liver conditions.

Standard

<5 ng/mL (nonsmokers).

Optimal

0–2.5 ng/mL nonsmoker (lower is good)

Modifiers

Rises with smoking, inflammatory bowel disease, benign liver conditions.

How to optimize

within Cancer Markers