Doctors use tests like mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) scans to help them screen for, diagnose, treat, and monitor cancer. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you may have had one or more of these tests. You may have wondered why you had specific tests and not others and what exactly the doctor was looking for.
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Imaging—X-rays, CT scans, MRIs—is a process that produces pictures of body structures and organs. It is used to detect tumors and other abnormalities, to determine the extent of disease, and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.
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Lab tests are used in cancer diagnosis to look for tumor markers. These are substances either released by cancer cells into the blood or urine or substances created by the body in response to cancer cells.
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An endoscope is a small, flexible tube with a light and a lens on the end used to look into the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, colon, or rectum. It can also be used to take tissue from the body for testing or to take color photographs of the inside of the body.
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A detailed look at different types of biopsies, and how and why they are done.
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You may need regular blood tests to keep track of how well you and your doctor are managing a condition such as diabetes or high cholesterol.
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If your healthcare provider thinks you may have cancer, you will have a biopsy. Here's what you need to know about surgical biopsy.
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