Blood Drug Testing

Can you determine if someone has cancer through a blood test?

Im kind of a hypochondriac and think I have every disease under the sun, I recently gave blood to the red cross, would they be able to detect if I had cancer from my blood sample?

Public Comments

1. I was told when I had a swollen lymph node on my neck that it most likely was not cancer because my white blood cell count was normal. My doctore told me it would be high if I had something to worry about. So I would think that a high white blood cell count would make them atleast call you.
2. It depends on the type of cancer. Some cancers do have indicators that appear in a blood test, however some indicators my not be found unless a more in-depth analysis of the blood is done. This is unlikely to occur in a standard blood test and is mostly used as a definitive proof of diagnosis based on other symptoms.
3. I know men can have prostate cancer detected through a PSA blood test. Prostate specific antigen. I am a cancer survivor (Prostate). Breast cancer through self-examination and breast x-rays. Most cancers can be detected through different tests.
4. With over 200 to 300 different types of cancer there are very few ways to detect the presence of the disease. There are very, very few cancers that can be detected using a blood test. However, some times the blood work will come back as suspicious and the doctor will order further testing to determine what is going on. A blood test is only one tool in the process of diagnosis. The best test is to biopsy a suspicious lump or bump to see if a malignancy is present . . but that isn't 100 percent guaranteed either. In general a cancer diagnosis can be complicated as the disease symptoms can mimic so many other things. Thus a doctor needs to examine the patient and investigate thoroughly before diagnosis.
5. if u have cancer or not can only be determined through a biopsy. however blood work shows the indicators if u have cancer.