Blood Drug Testing

Can blood tests reveal cancer or xrays?

i was just wondering can blood tests or xrays reveal cancer? i mean im asking cause i had a headache on the right front and back of my head for 3 half weeks now and im being sent for blood tests and xrays. well i have no other symptoms at all. but i find this pain in my head worrying although the dr doesnt seem to think its serious. im waiting to see a neurologist. should i ask for a scan aswel? and can blood tests xrays detect cancer tumours hemorages etc? can stress cause such a migraine front and back of the head for so long? i cant imagine why im getting this? i never ever had pain in the back of my head like this before and its been there for nearly 4 weeks. im being sent for a neck xray the dr thinks its awakward sitting at the computer lol neck strain but i dont think so personally its a dull pain that moves kindov in the back of my head comes and goes cant be neck strain lol

Public Comments

1. I'm not sure but I wouldn't think think blood tests would reveal cancer but I think xrays will. Get well soon!
2. Both can but do not jump to conclusions you may merely have hypertension.
3. Yes and yes , but they also can detect numerous less serious ailments and illness , it depends on the result of the blood test if your doctor will decide to send you for more tests , there are many many reasons for pain ,cancerous tumors being well down the list , you are causing yourself stress which may increase the pain , try to relax and wait for results before you worry unnecessarily
4. The blood test is probably to check levels of nutrients in your blood, low iron levels can cause headaches so try and eat more red meat (assuming your not a vegeterian) and lots of leafy greens you might perk up a bit. You could be diabetic, low blood sugar can cause headaches. Thyroid problems can also cause headaches & these can all be checked & confirmed with a blood test. The Xray - depending on type - can identify anything from sinusitis to to tumours in the brain & although the causes of headaches are in their thousands your doctor will have this done as part of the routine or tests. I wouldn't worry too much at the moment, if it's stress that's causing your headache then it'll only be made worse! All the best :-)
5. of course, the worrying is making your headache much worse, try and relax with deep breathing exercises. blood tests can reveal some cancers, and an x ray would as well. But, it really does sound like a high tension headache, try walking, yoga, meditation, anything to help you relax. Hope this helps? and get well soon
6. An xray can reveal a tumour - it will come up as a shadow, though I think it needs to be quite large to be picked up properly. A blood test could reveal cancer cells, or a high white blood cell count - which can sometimes indicate cancer. You may need to ask your doctor about this though - since they could simply be looking for one thing, which means the white blood cells and everything else in the blood might be ignored. Ask your doctor to make sure it's going to be checked for any indications of cancer. Migraines are really horrible things - they can last quite a while, sadly. I'm not really sure what causes them but a normal headache is usually caused by dehydration or tension. I'm sure that if it was cancer, though, you'd be showing more symptoms rather than just migraines. Things like blackouts or seizures tend to point more in the cancer direction, though you're right to be wary in case you catch something early on. I'm certain they'll find out what's wrong with you - or at least calm your nerves about it being cancer. Good luck
7. Trying to be our own doctor only makes stress worse and will make any headache worse for sure. Try to relax, take the normal tylenol or other headache reliever and wait for the doctor's answer. I currently have an incredibly painful problem that I am waiting on an answer to so I know a little of what you are going through. I am trying to focus on OTHER peoples' problems so mine gets shoved to the rear of my brain. Best of luck to you.
8. yes in some parts of the body cancer can be detected in blood samples, but the signs would be bleeding from one of your opening, mouth,nose, privates, go with what your doctor has said there are many reasons why you may have head pains,and yes Xrays can spot things that may not be right, these would normally be followed up with a biopsy, has your doctor ask you to go for an eye test, that's another possibility
9. Blood test can only reflect concerns of a cancer in just a few of the hundreds types of cancer, so blood test are not a good test for cancer. An x-ray can not tell you if you have cancer or not, but it can show tumors that need further investigation. I bet they are not even looking towards cancer at this time, but trying to see if you have a chemical imbalance that is causing the headaches.
10. hey i have been having exactly the same type of headaches for about the same amount of time, i went to see my doctor today and has referred me to a specialist Ophthalmologist (for eyes) hopefully that will be the problem, have you a history of bad i sight in your family? if so you might want to see one too. hope you get it sorted soon :)
11. x rays look at bones so wouldnt detect brain cancer. blood test may, depending on th form/cause of cancer.
12. Blood tests can reveal a potential cancer which is why cancer patients have tests on a three weekly basis. Stress can cause migraines, so can blood pressure problems and other problems. The xray you are going to have may well be a scan (they are types of xray) which is possible if you are going to see a neurologist. Try not to worry about it too much until you have some information to go on.