Blood Drug Testing

Does cancer always show up in blood tests?

I've heard that cancer can be detected by a blood test from my PA; then someone else told me it's not always detectable. What do U say? Wow! The answer seems overwhelmingly clear...I need to look into various other methods of testing. Thanks! Theoriginalquestmaker: I'm sorry to learn that about your diagnosis. My heart goes out to you and pray you'll get the healing you need.

Public Comments

1. No thats why they do biopsies and stuff I think
2. I think that it would show up, but they have to be testing for it specifically.
3. Some cancers are detectable through blood tests, but not all cancers.
4. Most cancers cannot be detected in a blood test.
5. Thats true. Not all cancer is detectable by a blood test. Cancer is a sneaky business.
6. only if they are looking for it usually they see SIGNS of an INDICATOR u might have it
7. most are but not all, some rquire specific tests
8. You need to run a test called cat125 tumor markers. Your blood is your true DNA
9. Some types can be detected by a rise in some body chemical. No blood test will find anything unless it is being specifically looked for. Just because you have a blood test and no one says you have cancer means nothing. ✩
10. I had breast cancer and it could not be detected UNTIL I had a biopsy.
11. NO. cancer does not always show in blood tests, in fact Leukemia, half the time only shows up in blood work after its too late to recognize.......if you think you have a certain type of cancer, then go to a Specialist in that area of your body, do not rely on only blood tests, or just a mammogram........
12. its not always detectible in blood work. get a PET scan done. its like a CAT scan but it detects cancer. it works.
13. No it does not. If it could, they wouldn't have to do biopsy's. I guess some form of cancers can though because that is how they check my husband to see if his cancer has returned. I don't know, I just wish there was never any thing like cancer in any form. It to me, cancer is just a death sentence and I know I shouldn't be talking that way but everyone I ever knew ,who had it has died. My Mom, my Aunts, and now my little Brother has it. It's like fighting with the Devil, and some day, we WILL WIN!
14. Some can be detected by a blood test, but have to be confirmed by doing a biopsy or other tests. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned as cancer is most treatable when detected early. Hope this helps.
15. No, it doesn't always show up in blood tests. Darn it. It's an insidious disease.
16. Not necessarily and not usually a blood test on it's own. Usually an analysis of other symptoms along with a range of blood tests may confirm that there is something not quite right, which may require further detailed tests and evaluations. For instance a Full Blood Count test gives a lot of information, which in conjunction with other symptoms may establish the need for more specific tests that could identify the particular ailment more precisely. FBC measures include; - the amount of haemoglobin in the blood; - the number of red blood cells (red cell count); - the percentage of blood cells as a proportion of the total blood volume (haematocrit or packed cell volume); - the volume of red blood cells (mean cell volume); - the average amount of haemoglobin in the red blood cells (known as mean cell haemoglobin); - the number of white blood cells (white cell count); - the percentages of the different types of white blood cells (leucocyte differential count); and - the number of platelets. But a thorough CT scan/PET and bone density scans along with specific blood tests and the knowledge and experience of a clever oncologist would be the best and most accurate way of identifying any possible abnormalities.
17. If that were true then I wouldn't have needed a biopsy to learn I have breast cancer.