What is a blood test for cancer?
A new type of blood test for cancer looks for circulating tumor cells. These cells have broken off from a tumor and are in your bloodstream. This may indicate that cancer is spreading (metastasizing). The test can currently help monitor certain types of cancer, such as breast, prostate and colorectal cancers.
How is cancer diagnosed?
How Cancer Is Diagnosed. X-rays use low doses of radiation to create pictures of the inside of your body. Credit: iStock. If you have a symptom or a screening test result that suggests cancer, your doctor must find out whether it is due to cancer or some other cause. The doctor may start by asking about your personal and family medical history
Can a blood test detect cancer floating in the bloodstream?
Recently developed blood tests are being used to detect cells that have broken away from an original cancer site and are floating in the bloodstream. One circulating tumor cell test has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to monitor people with breast, colorectal or prostate cancer.