Have you ever heard about CEA analysis ? Does it really help diagnose cancer? Learn with us, through the coming lines, all the information related to this analysis, starting with its medical uses, how it is performed, its effectiveness, its potential side effects, its relationship to colon cancer in particular, and many other information:

What is a CEA analysis?

CEA, or carcinoembryonic antigen, is a type of blood test used to help diagnose and manage certain types of cancer.

It is usually used for types of cancers that affect the large intestine and rectum, and this analysis can also help the doctor know whether cancer treatment is effective or not. It should be mentioned that antigen is a substance that is made by tumor cells, and sometimes antigens are released into the bloodstream, and the CEA test measures the amount of these antigens in the blood.

How is a CEA analysis performed?

This analysis is performed under the supervision of a doctor, where a sample of blood is drawn from a vein in the arm, and when blood is drawn, the doctor or nurse cleans the place of withdrawal, which is usually in the middle of the arm, after placing a rubber band to help collect blood in the vein in the upper half of the arm .

After this, the syringe is placed in a vein to collect the blood in a tube. After this, the blood sample is analyzed in a specialized laboratory, and the result is awaited to determine the state of health.

Sometimes doctors may want to see levels of CEA in bodily fluids other than blood, such as:

• The spinal cord from the spine.
• Peritoneal fluid from the abdomen.
• Pleural fluid is removed from the surrounding area of ​​the lungs.

Determining this is up to the doctor, and these procedures are usually done in a specialized hospital.

When does a doctor request a CEA test?

There are several uses for a CEA test. A doctor can order this test if you have symptoms that suggest you may have cancer. It can also help determine the effectiveness of cancer treatments, which may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

The doctor may request this analysis to see if the cancer has returned or not after treatment is over. The CEA test is useful when diagnosed with a cancer that only produces carcinoembryonic antigens. The types of cancers for which this test is used include:

• Colon Cancer.
• Rectal cancer.
• breast cancer.
• Medullary thyroid cancer.
• Gastrointestinal cancers.
• Lung Cancer.
• Liver Cancer.
• ovarian cancer.
• Prostate cancer.
• Pancreas cancer.

It should be noted that the CEA analysis is not used to examine and diagnose the general health condition in the event that no symptoms appear. In the case of a diagnosis of cancer, the doctor monitors CEA levels before starting treatment, and then monitors changes after and during treatment to see how successful the treatment methods have been chosen.

What is a normal CEA level?

A normal CEA level should be less than or equal to 3 nanograms per milliliter, and most healthy people have a CEA level below this. CEA levels usually return to normal between 1 and 4 months after the cancer has been successfully treated or removed.

Does an increased level of CEA mean cancer?

An increase in CEA levels above normal, which continues to increase, may indicate the possibility of cancer growing or returning again after being treated before, but high levels of CEA in many people do not always mean cancer or its return again, as there are other conditions that may lead to this increase, Therefore, it is preferable to discuss the results with the doctor to find out the correct diagnosis.

Factors leading to an increase in the level of CEA

There are some health conditions and factors that may cause high levels of CEA in the body, including the following:

• The presence of cysts or cysts in the breast.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• The presence of a cystic tumor in the ovary or in the appendix.
• Some types of infections, such as cholecystitis.
• Inflammatory bowel diseases that cause diarrhea, weight loss, and pain.
• Liver disease.
• Having lung problems.
• pancreatitis.
• Stomach ulcer.

CEA levels can also rise if you are pregnant or smoke, so you should ask your doctor and find out the real reason.

Are there requirements for a CEA analysis?

There is no special preparation done before this test, but usually the bladder and bowel should be emptied (by abstaining from food for a number of hours determined by the doctor or laboratory staff) before the test.

How accurate is the CEA analysis?

The results of several studies that have been conducted to find out the accuracy of CEA analysis indicate the following:

• The sensitivity of the analysis (the ability of the analysis to correctly identify patients with the disease) ranged from 17.4% to 100%.
• The quality of the analysis (its ability to identify people without the disease) ranged from 66.1% to 98.4%.
• The positive predictive value of CEA (the probability of people actually getting sick after a positive test result) ranged from 45.8% to 95.2%.
• The negative predictive value of the analysis (the probability that people will not actually develop the disease after a negative test result) ranged from 74.5% to 100%.

CEA side effects

Because a CEA test is a type of blood test, you are at risk for the known side effects of a blood draw, which can include:

• Exposure to bleeding.
• Inflammation.
• Swelling at the injection site.
• feeling dizzy

Moderate pain or tingling may be felt in the arm during the blood sample being drawn after the syringe has been inserted into the arm.

CEA analysis and colon cancer

As we mentioned earlier, CEA analysis is used to determine the success of the treatment methods used in some cancer cases, and the most famous of these cases is colon cancer.

Most national and international standards recommend that patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome who have undergone colectomy to treat cancer should have a CEA test for at least 5 years to monitor any changes, and a CT scan is also recommended if CEA levels are higher than 5 milliliters.

However, it must be mentioned that the use of CEA analysis to monitor patients with colon cancer from stage one to stage four is still a matter of controversy, especially in the field of oncology, so we advise you to speak with a specialist doctor to find out the most appropriate treatment methods and appropriate follow-up for your health condition.

And after we got to know everything related to the CEA analysis and whether it helps in detecting cancer or not, remember, dear readers, that the best way to prevent any diseases is to maintain your health and follow healthy eating and sports habits, and if you feel any changes, do not ignore it and consult a doctor, and we hope Good health and wellness to you.