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Blood tests used to help diagnose cancer include CBC and tumor marker tests. Other tests and procedures are needed to confirm a cancer diagnosis.
There are two main types of tumor markers: Circulating tumor markers. Tumor tissue markers. Circulating tumor markers are in: Blood. Urine (pee). Stool (poop). Bone marrow. Saliva (spit). To get a sample of your blood, a healthcare provider will run a blood test.
Healthcare providers categorize cancer blood tests into four main types: Complete blood count (CBC). A CBC can detect some blood or immune system cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. But it can’t detect solid organ cancers like lung, breast or colon cancers.
White blood cells (WBC): The number and type of white blood cells can show if you’re fighting off an infection, or if you have a blood cancer such as leukemia or lymphoma. Platelets: The number of platelets can reveal conditions such as thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis.
Tumor markers are substances that are produced by cancer cells or by normal cells in response to the presence of cancer. They can be detected in blood, urine, or tissue samples and are used to help diagnose and monitor cancer.
What is a tumor marker? Tumor markers may also be called cancer markers or biomarkers. A tumor marker is a substance found in the blood, urine, stool, the tumor itself, or tissue. The level of the tumor marker and which one it is can help you and your provider learn about your cancer.
Most MCDs examine DNA that tumor cells release into blood. They may also analyze other biological molecules in blood, such as proteins. Tests that look at tumor markers in blood and other body fluids are sometimes called liquid biopsy tests.
A list of tumor marker tests that are in common use, mainly to direct treatment or for testing in blood to help make a diagnosis of cancer.
These cancer biomarkers can be found in body tissue (via a biopsy), blood and urine. Some biomarkers are specific to one type of cancer, while others are related to several cancers. If your care team is planning to do a tumor marker test, this guide may help you learn more about the procedure.
Certain tumor markers may be found in samples of body fluids, such as blood or urine (pee). Other tumor markers are found in samples of cells that are removed from a tumor during a biopsy. Tumor marker tests are mainly used after you have a cancer diagnosis. The test results may help answer important questions about your cancer, such as: