Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a type of protein. It is normally found in embryos, that is babies inside the womb. Once the baby is born, it disappears from the body and nobody has it in their adult life, under normal conditions. But certain cancers of the lungs, liver, thyroid, colon, etc. are marked by the presence of carcinoembryonic antigen in the blood. Hence, the CEA test is used to diagnose various types of cancers in the body.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen Test - An Overview
A CEA test screens your blood for markers that might help physicians monitor cancer. It's not a diagnosis but a clue.
