A patient being evaluated for abdominal pain of unknown origin has a blood test for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).The result is 5 ng/mL.Which question should the nurse ask in order to assess the significance of this result?
A)"Did you eat or drink anything after midnight?"
B)"Do you smoke cigarettes?"
C)"How often do you exercise?"
D)"Has your doctor told you that you may have cancer?"

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

CEA is a tumor marker that is often used to screen for colorectal cancer, but it can be elevated in other types of cancer and non-cancerous conditions. Smoking is a known risk factor for cancer and can also cause elevated CEA levels. Therefore, asking about smoking history can help assess the significance of the CEA result. The other options are unrelated to CEA levels.

A Patient Being Evaluated for Abdominal Pain of Unknown Origin