Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: No fasting required. Stop biotin 72 hours before collection. For CA-125, collect at least 3 weeks after chemotherapy and 2 months after abdominal surgery. Avoid testing during menstruation when possible; ideally test at least 1 week after your period ends.
- Turnaround: 3-4 business days. May take longer due to weather, holidays, or lab delays.
What's Included
- Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA): Often measured before and after colon cancer surgery to help check how well treatment worked. Also used to monitor chemotherapy effectiveness and to help detect whether cancer has returned after treatment.
- Cancer Antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9): Measures a protein in the blood associated with pancreatic cancer, other cancers, and some noncancerous conditions. Not used alone for diagnosis, but can help monitor cancer and treatment progress.
- Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125): Measures a protein that can be a sign of cancer, often elevated in people with ovarian cancer. Can help show whether treatment is working.
- Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP): Measures AFP levels in the blood to help support diagnosis of certain cancers and monitor treatment. High levels may relate to liver, ovarian, or testicular cancer, but the result cannot be used alone for diagnosis and is most effective alongside other exams.
- Cancer Antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3): Used to monitor for recurrence and spread of breast cancer. An elevated level can indicate potential spread or recurrence, and this test is typically performed alongside CA-125 and CEA. It is not intended for breast cancer screening.
Benefits
- Combines 5 distinct tumor markers into one convenient blood draw.
- Helps support diagnosis for certain cancers alongside other clinical exams.
- Can help monitor how a cancer treatment is working.
- Helps check for signs that a cancer has returned after treatment.
- Offers markers associated with several different cancer types in one panel.
Who Is This Test For?
- People experiencing symptoms that may relate to a specific type of cancer.
- Individuals with a personal or family history of cancer.
- People whose healthcare provider wants to help monitor cancer treatment progress.
- Individuals being followed for possible cancer recurrence after treatment.
- Anyone working with a provider to evaluate cancer-related symptoms further.
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of this panel?
This panel combines 5 tumor markers, CEA, CA 19-9, CA-125, AFP, and CA 15-3, into a single blood draw. Together, these markers can help support the diagnosis of certain cancers, help monitor how cancer treatment is working, help predict how a cancer may behave, and help check for signs of recurrence after treatment. Each marker serves a somewhat different role, and none of them are used alone to diagnose cancer, confirm that cancer is present, or rule cancer out. Results are meant to be considered alongside other clinical information from your healthcare provider.
2. Who is this panel for, and when should I order it?
This panel may be useful if you're experiencing symptoms that could relate to a specific type of cancer, such as abnormal periods or pelvic pain, bloating, changes in bowel habits, breast changes, chronic coughing, chronic headache, difficulty swallowing, or excessive bruising. It can also be useful if you have a personal or family history of cancer, or if your healthcare provider wants to help track how a cancer treatment is progressing or watch for signs of recurrence. It is not intended as a routine test for everyone concerned about cancer in general, and it does not replace a full clinical evaluation.
3. How does this panel differ from individual cancer-related tests?
Rather than ordering CEA, CA 19-9, CA-125, AFP, and CA 15-3 separately, this panel combines all 5 into one convenient blood draw. That convenience doesn't change how the results are used, however: each marker still needs to be interpreted on its own terms, based on its own role, rather than as a single combined score.
4. Do I need to fast before this test?
No fasting is required for this panel. You should stop taking biotin 72 hours before your blood collection. For the CA-125 portion specifically, it is recommended to collect your sample at least 3 weeks after chemotherapy and at least 2 months after abdominal surgery, and to avoid testing during menstruation when possible, since CA-125 levels can be elevated during your period. Scheduling at least one week after your period ends can help with accurate results.
5. How quickly will I get results?
Results are typically available in 3 to 4 days, though this may take longer due to weather, holidays, or lab delays.
6. How do I interpret the results?
Each marker in this panel should be interpreted individually and in the context of your personal medical history, symptoms, physical exam findings, other lab results, imaging, or pathology, as appropriate. Not every marker carries the same clinical significance, and some markers can also be affected by noncancerous conditions. An abnormal result does not confirm a cancer diagnosis, and a normal result does not rule cancer out. If your provider is tracking a marker such as CEA or CA 15-3 over time, trends may offer useful context, but they do not guarantee a specific clinical conclusion on their own.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
7. What should I do if my results are abnormal?
Share your results with a qualified healthcare provider so they can review them alongside your medical history and any other relevant findings. This panel does not provide a complete clinical picture on its own, and your provider can help determine whether further evaluation is appropriate based on your specific situation.
8. How often should I get tested?
How often you should repeat this panel depends on your individual situation and should be decided as directed by your healthcare provider. If a marker such as CEA or CA 15-3 is being used to help watch for recurrence or monitor treatment, your provider can advise on an appropriate follow-up schedule based on your case.
Pre-test preparation
No fasting is required for this panel. Stop taking biotin 72 hours before your blood collection. For the CA-125 portion, it is recommended to collect your sample at least 3 weeks after chemotherapy and at least 2 months after abdominal surgery. Avoid testing during menstruation when possible, as CA-125 levels can be significantly elevated during menses, which can lead to misinterpretation. Schedule testing at least one week after your menstrual period ends for the most accurate results.
