High CEA levels may also be a sign of some noncancerous conditions, such as cirrhosis, noncancerous breast disease, and emphysema. A CEA test can't tell you what kind of cancer you have, or even whether you have cancer. So the test is not used for cancer screening or diagnosis.

Can CEA be normal with cancer?

Some people with cancer have a normal CEA. And higher levels of CEA don't mean you have cancer. Many conditions other than cancer can cause CEA to go up.

Is CEA a reliable tumor marker?

Doctors don't use the CEA test to make a first-time diagnosis of cancer. This test isn't an accurate way to screen for it because many other diseases can cause the levels of this protein to rise. And some people with cancer don't have high CEA levels.