![]() What it does: Urinalysis describes the color of urine and measures its contents, such as sugar, protein, red blood cells, and white blood cells. How they are used: Tumor markers can be used to help diagnose cancer, decide on treatment, measure how well treatment worked, and watch for signs that the cancer has returned. But they are produced at much higher levels by cancer cells. Most tumor markers are made by both normal cells and cancer cells. What they do: Tests for tumor markers measure substances that are produced by cancer cells or other cells of the body in response to cancer. How it is used: Sputum cytology can help diagnose lung cancer. What it does: Sputum cytology looks for abnormal cells in sputum, which is mucus and other matter brought up from the lungs by coughing. It may also be used to help plan treatment or to find out how well treatment is working or if cancer has come back. ![]() How it is used: A liquid biopsy may help find cancer at an early stage. What it does: Liquid biopsy is a test done on a sample of blood to look for cancer cells or pieces of DNA from tumor cells that are sometimes released into the blood. How it is used: Immunophenotyping helps diagnose, stage, and monitor blood cancers and other blood disorders, such as leukemias, lymphomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative disorders. But it may also be done on other body fluids or tissue samples. It is most often done on blood or bone marrow samples. What it does: Immunophenotyping uses antibodies to identify cells based on the types of antigens or markers on the surface of the cells. How it is used: Cytogenetic analysis may be used to help diagnose cancer, plan treatment, or find out how well treatment is working. Changes in certain chromosomes may be a sign of a genetic condition or some types of cancer. Chromosome changes may include broken, missing, rearranged, or extra chromosomes. What it does: Cytogenetic analysis looks for changes in chromosomes in samples of tissue, blood, bone marrow, or amniotic fluid. It is also used to monitor your health during and after treatment. It can help diagnose some cancers, especially leukemias. How it is used: The CBC is often part of a routine health check-up. It also measures the amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in your blood, the amount of your blood that is made up of red blood cells (hematocrit), the size of your red blood cells, and the amount of hemoglobin in your red blood cells. What it does: The CBC measures the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in your blood. High or low levels of some substances in the blood can be a sign of disease or treatment side effects. What it tells us: Blood chemistry tests give important information about how well your kidneys, liver, and other organs are working. These substances include metabolites, electrolytes, fats, sugars, and proteins, including enzymes. What it does: A blood chemistry test measures the amounts of certain substances that are released into the blood by the organs and tissues of the body. Some common types of lab tests used to help diagnose cancer are listed below. Your doctor is the best person to explain your lab test results and what they mean for you. These are some of the reasons why lab tests alone can’t say for sure if you have cancer or any other disease. And it is possible to have test results outside the normal range even if you are healthy. ![]() These ranges are based on test results from large numbers of people who have been tested in the past.įor many tests, it is possible to have normal results even if you have cancer. Because normal results can bounce around a bit, they are often reported in a range, with lower and upper limits. ![]() In fact, your own results can vary from day to day. Reasons for these differences include age, sex, race, medical history, and general health. It is important to keep in mind that lab results for healthy people can vary from person to person. Lab test results are used along with the results of other tests, such as biopsies and imaging, to help diagnose and learn more about a person’s cancer. However, abnormal lab results are not a sure sign of cancer. So lab tests of your blood, urine, and other body fluids that measure these substances can help doctors make a diagnosis. ![]() High or low levels of certain substances in your body can be a sign of cancer. But your doctor is the best person to explain the results from all your tests and what they mean for you. It is normal to feel anxious and want to know right away what the results are and what they mean. Results from lab tests, imaging, and biopsies are often posted in your patient portal before your doctor can discuss them with you. What happens if tests show you have cancer ![]()
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