Blood Drug Testing

Can a blood test miss detecting cancer?

Can a blood test miss detecting cancer? If so what is the most reliable way to detect cancer?

Public Comments

1. la sangre juega un papel muy importnate de hecho es la principal prueba de saber si tienes t recomiendo ir al doctor we
2. there are special blood tests that your doctor will perform to check for signs of cancer. scans like CT OR ULTRASOUND scans are the best ways to find if u have cancer as the scan person can see the visable mass. a 24 hour urine collection can also be done and tested to check for cancer cells but it needs to be checked at a lab. as far as i know the blood tests dont give u an exact yes u have cancer ir no u dont...it helps to detect different levels of cells
3. It depends on what sort of blood test was done and what sort of cancer was suspected. Generally most cancers cannot be diagnosed through blood tests. CT or MRI scans are required and biopsies are needed for confirmation. Only cancers like leukemia can be confirmed with blood tests. All the best
4. There are a lot of different cancers and a lot of different blood tests. Each and every cancer has it's own diagnostic algorithm so the situation is a little more complex...
5. While there are several cancers that can be detected by doing blood tests, you would have to know WHAT cancer in particular you're looking for. And while there are several blood tests that will "detect" cancer, none are "diagnostic". Biopsy, whether that be tissue or bone marrow, is required for any diagnosis of cancer... even leukemia, despite what another respondent suggests.
6. My sister is in the last stages of her treatment for cancer and yes they can tell thru your bloodwork if you still have cancer cells but I dont think the specific type of cancer.They have a marker for the amnt of cancer cells in your blood and if they are above a certain level they know you still have the cancer.Hers thankgod is coming back below that marker which means they are pretty sure it is cured.(pray)It is a test that the doctor has to order if they are suspicious but not done on a regular routine blood test.Sometimes your white cell count is elevated thru a routine blood test and they will investigate to determine if it is infection or something more serious.
7. A blood test can only indicate that 'something' might be wrong . . but it won't tell you what . . and it won't tell you if it is cancer or a number of other diseases. It is only one tool that may be a signal . . if the doctors are LOOKING for it. Cancer is an umbrella term for over 200 different types of disease . . and the majority of them are silent . .with no warning symptoms or way to detect they are there. Even a CT, PET, or MRI can miss cancer if it is too small or located behind a body structure . . you have to know WHERE to look inside the body for the cancer or it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Other than a very few cancers . . there is no reliable way to detect cancer other than by 'accident' or during a routine checkup. Perhaps one of the only ways to find an early cancer is if it manifests itself as a tumor on the surface of the skin or you can feel under the skin. This is why women are encouraged to do breast self examination and men to do testicular self exam . . if done regularly people become aware of what is normal for their bodies . . and if an unexplained painless lump occurs that seems to be growing . . that may be the earliest warning for cancer. And this is not just limited to the breast or testicles .. . any unexplained painless lump or bump over 2cm that does not go away after a month and seems to be growing should be examined by a doctor . . this includes lumps that appear on arms, legs, anywhere on the trunk of the body . . .literally anywhere. People need to become aware of what is normal on their bodies and what is not . . a monthly body check while showering might be a good idea that could save your life.
8. Most forms of cancer result in an elevated white blood count, so the short answer is "probably not"...but the only reliable way to detect cancer is by biopsy.