Your doctor may recommend laboratory test to identify or rule out cancer. A lab test analyzes samples of bodily fluid, such as blood or urine, to help measure your health and diagnose disease.
Cancer Lab Tests
According to the National Cancer Institute, laboratory tests are used in cancer medicine:
To screen for cancer or precancerous conditions
To help diagnose cancer
To provide information about a cancer’s stage
To plan treatment
To monitor a patient’s health during treatment and check for potential side effects
To determine whether a cancer is responding to treatment
To find out whether a cancer has returned
Among the many tests used in cancer medicine, your doctor at Saint Vincent may recommend these tests for you:
Blood chemistry test to monitor levels of certain substances in the blood
Gene mutation testing to assess cancer risk
Complete blood count, which can help diagnose cancer and monitor your health during treatment
Cytogenetic analysis, which assesses your white blood cells and bone marrow cells for diagnosis and treatment decisions
Immunophenotyping for diagnosis, staging and monitoring of cancers of the blood system
Sputum culture, which helps identify abnormal cells in the mucus
Tumor marker tests, which help identify cancer or benign conditions
Urinalysis to detect problems with the kidneys or urinary tract
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