Ways You Might Be Diagnosed
Based on the concerns and symptoms that you tell your doctor, they might ask that you have some testing done to find out more information. This could be certain types of medical imaging or lab tests (where they take your blood).
Your family doctor/nurse practitioner/specialist doctor might send you for some tests.
You might be asked to go for any number of the tests below. This is just a small list of some of the tests you might be asked to have. All of these links to more information open in a new window on the Canadian Cancer Society website:
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
- CT scan (computerized tomography scan)
- X-Ray
- PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography)
- Biopsy
- Lab work
- Mammogram
These tests can help to:
- Find cancer
- Diagnose cancer
- Guide your doctors in creating a treatment plan
Medical Imaging
Medical imaging is the broad term used for tests that take pictures of the inside of your body. It helps doctors to see what is going on inside of you.
The American Cancer Society has detailed information about different types of medical imaging tests. Visit their website on Imaging (Radiology) Tests (opens in new window) for more information.
Pathology
Pathology is the study of disease.
Doctors who have extra training in pathology are called Pathologists. They spend years learning about diseases, disease processes and the effect a disease might have on the body.
They are able to look at certain tests (e.g. a biopsy of your cells) in order to make a diagnosis of cancer.
The Canadian Cancer Society has a list of questions to ask about pathology and staging of your cancer (opens in a new window).
Lab Tests
Lab tests, or blood work, might be ordered by your doctor to test for certain cancer "red flags" or tumour markers (opens in a new window) in your blood.
Biopsy
A biopsy is when a doctor will take a small sample of tissue or tumour from your body. The sample is looked at under a microscope to find out more information (e.g. is this cancer? what type or cancer?)
The type of biopsy that you get will depend on the area where the doctor thinks there might be cancer.