Cancer Diagnosis: Utilizing Blood Tests in Oncology

Cancer Blood Tests: Diagnostic Laboratory Tests in Oncology

Mayo Clinic offers cancer blood tests as part of the diagnostic process for patients. These tests, performed in a laboratory setting, help healthcare providers identify signs of cancer and guide decision-making.

When a health professional suspects cancer, additional testing is often required to confirm the diagnosis. Cancer blood tests serve as crucial tools ding this assessment process by examining cell counts, proteins, and chemical markers in the bloodstream that may indicate malignancy.

It's important to note that most cancer blood tests aren't definitive for diagnosing cancer alone; however, they can provide substantial insights for healthcare teams when analyzing patient symptoms and medical history. A procedure involving tissue sampling is typically necessary for a conclusive diagnosis. Nonetheless, several types of blood tests play significant roles in oncology:

1. Complete Blood Count CBC: Measures various components of the blood sample, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Cancers affecting hematopoietic tissues can be detected through this test.

2. Electrophoresis Blood Test: Determines levels of proteins produced by your immune system to identify abnormalities that may signal multiple myelomaa cancer involving plasma cells.

3. Tumor Marker Tests: These tests examine the blood for elevated levels of chemicals made exclusively or predominantly by cancer cells. Although these markers aren't always specific enough to diagnose cancer alone, they can indicate disease activity after a diagnosis is established.

Some key examples include:

• Prostate-Specific Antigen PSA for prostate cancer

• Cancer antigen 125 CA 125 for ovarian cancer

• Carcinoembryonic Antigen CEA for colorectal cancer

• Alpha-Fetoprotein AFP for testicular cancer

The presence of elevated tumor markers doesn't always guarantee a cancer diagnosis, as healthy cells can also produce them. Additionally, conditions not associated with malignancy may rse marker levels.

4. Circulating Tumor Cell Tests: These tests identify live or dead cancer cells circulating in the bloodstream, which might have detached from primary tumors and spread elsewhere in the body. They are primarily used after a cancer diagnosis to track disease progression.

5. Genetic Material Detection: Blood-based tests that analyze DNA fragments shed by cancerous cells can provide insights into genetic changes within tumors. Health professionals utilize this information for selecting personalized treatment approaches.

Research is ongoing regarding the potential of these tests for early cancer detection in asymptomatic individuals. However, they are currently used primarily to support diagnosis and guide therapies once a cancer diagnosis has been made.

If your blood test results indicate an unexpected result, further evaluation will likely be necessary to pinpoint the underlying cause, whether malignancy or another health condition.

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References:

1 Mayo Clinic 2023. Cancer Blood Tests: Diagnostic Laboratory Tests. Retrieved from http:www.mayoedu.comcancerblood-tests

2 National Cancer Institute 2023. Understanding the basics of cancer tests and diagnostics. https:www.cancer.govtypesallunderstanding-basics

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