Blood Drug Testing

Is biopsy the only way to detect canine cancer? Or can it be done through blood tests?

My vet ice packed a blood sample over to the CSU veterinary school last week and two days ago the vet called me saying my dog had both lymphoma and leukemia. After the initial shock and sadness I have been able to do some research. However I am now a bit skeptical. Can you detect cancer through a blood test? I'm not sure what blood test it was, but it costs over $200 for me, and the vet said it was a very comprehensive blood test. Can someone clear this up for me? I know there can be abnormalities in the blood which can signal cancer, but a definite diagnosis? If you have experience with this, that would be great as well. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. If it was a lump, they can take a needle aspirate and look at the cells in it. But bloodwork shows the overall condition of the dog--very elevated liver counts would indicate cancer. The comprehensive blood test looks at all the factors they can get from the organ function going on in the dog--it also gives the vet your dog's baseline. My 2 cats who had cancer showed it in very sky high liver counts. Leukemia is diagnosed via blood tests, it would be accurate.
2. Both lymphoma and leukemia effect the blood and can be diagnosed through blood samples, the blood cells will show many abnormalities and ratio of white vs red cells.