A Patient Is Diagnosed with Cancer of the Colon and Is

A patient is diagnosed with cancer of the colon and is scheduled for surgical resection. A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test prior to surgery is not elevated. What is the significance of this finding?

A) A negative CEA indicates a reduced need for surgery.
B) The CEA should be repeated every 3 months.
C) The test is not informative and will not be repeated.
D) This result indicates a better prognosis for cure.