Blood test for cancer are a type of tests that are conducted for the purpose of identifying the type of cancer present in the blood. The patient should also perform these tests periodically to ensure his general health. In this post, we will discuss many aspects related to blood test for cancer.
blood test for cancer
Blood test for cancer are one of many tools health care professionals use to diagnose malignant tumors and determine the stage of the disease. Blood test for cancer markers provide valuable information about overall health, organ function, and risk of developing disease. However, more tests are needed to get a complete picture of the diagnosis.
what tests are done to check for cancer?
Health care providers classify blood test for cancer into four main types:
Complete blood count (CBC)
A CBC can detect some cancers of the blood and immune system, such as leukemia and lymphoma. However, it can’t detect solid organ cancers, such as lung, breast, and colorectal cancers. A CBC can tell your health care provider how your body is responding to treatment and whether the cancer has spread to your bone marrow.
Blood tumor marker test
This test identifies certain chemicals that are released into your blood every day. High levels of these chemicals in your blood may be a sign of cancer. The CA-125 blood test for cancer is a tumor marker test that’s commonly used to plan treatment and check for recurrence of some cancers (such as ovarian and pancreatic cancer). It’s a protein made in the prostate gland. High levels may indicate prostate cancer.
Blood protein test
This test looks for abnormal levels of a protein in your blood. Elevated protein levels may indicate the presence of certain cancers (especially blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma). Some tests, such as a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), include a presumptive total protein test and can also provide this information.
Circulating tumor cell (CTC) test
This is a type of liquid biopsy that checks your blood for cancer. It detects small pieces of tumor that break off and spread into your blood. Healthcare organizations use this cancer blood test to predict outcomes for patients with metastatic breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer. A low concentration of circulating cancer cells in your blood or no circulating cancer cells in your blood is considered positive. A lot of circulating cancer cells in your blood may indicate a poor outcome or the need for additional treatment.
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Types of blood tests for cancer
Here are some types of blood test for cancer used to diagnose cancer:
Complete Blood Count
The Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most frequently requested tests in many medical conditions. This test shows a complete count of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A certain increase in the number of these cells or the presence of abnormal cells indicates the possibility of cancer. The doctor confirms the occurrence of the infection by examining a bone marrow biopsy.
Blood Protein Electrophoresis Test
The protein electrophoresis test is an important test to detect some immune system proteins that increase in cancer, such as multiple myeloma.
Tumor Marker Tests
Tumor markers are some substances found in the blood, body fluids, or tissues that are produced by cancer cells. This type of test is used to detect the possibility of some types of cancer, and it can also be used to determine whether patients improve with treatment and assess the need for surgical intervention.
Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) Test
The Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) test is used to detect cells that have broken away from the original cancer site and moved through the blood. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this test for people with breast cancer, colon cancer, or prostate cancer.
What other tests will you need to get a diagnosis?
Blood test for cancer alone are usually not enough to diagnose cancer. Additional tests are almost certainly needed, including a;
- Biopsy. This involves taking a small amount of tissue (from an organ or bone marrow) and sending it to a lab for analysis.
- Imaging tests, including X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. These tests help medical staff determine the stage of the tumor.
- Other specialized tests may be needed. For example, mammograms are needed to diagnose breast cancer and Pap smears are needed to detect cervical cancer.
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Does early cancer show in blood work?
Most cancers can’t be detected with routine blood test for cancer. However, there is a special blood test for cancer markers that can detect cancer early in some people:
Gallery test:
This special blood test for cancer can detect more than 50 different types of cancer; it finds unique patterns in the sequence of DNA bases and can tell if cancer is present and where the cancer started.
Plasma tests that analyze proteins:
A 2024 study found that a new blood test holds promise for early detection of 18 types of cancer. (Proteomics is the study of proteins and their function in cells.) The study, which included 440 people, detected 93 percent of stage I cancers in men and those diagnosed male at birth (AMAB) and 84 percent of stage I cancers in women and those diagnosed female at birth (AFAB). Researchers need to do more research, but this blood test could become the standard for diagnosing cancer.
The results of this test should be interpreted with caution and the implications of further testing and treatment should be discussed with a qualified health care professional. Many cancers are notoriously difficult to diagnose in their early stages. However, regular cancer screening can detect certain types of cancer before symptoms appear. Ask your health care professional about age-appropriate screenings to help you stay healthy.
Test Details
Your health care provider will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for your blood test for cancer. These instructions depend on the type of test. In some cases, you may need to fast for 8-12 hours before the test. This means you shouldn’t eat or drink anything other than water. You may also need to avoid taking certain medications beforehand.
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Results and Follow-Up
Results of blood test for cancer will be received within a day or two. However, some types of tests may take several days. Your health care provider will tell you when you will get your results and will discuss this with you at your appointment. If your blood test for cancer suggest you may have cancer, your health care provider will refer you to an oncologist (a medical oncologist). The oncologist may perform additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and suggest an appropriate treatment plan.
How do cancer blood tests work?
Blood test for cancer, along with other tests, can give health care professionals important information about chemicals and proteins in your blood that may indicate cancer. Blood cell levels that are too high or too low, which may be caused by cancer. The stage of your cancer. The effect of treatment. Whether your cancer has come back.
Which blood tests can detect cancer?
To find out what’s wrong with a patient, a series of blood test for cancer are done to check blood samples for abnormal cell growth or tumors. Can blood tests detect cancer? No, blood test for cancer can’t detect all types of cancer, and there’s no conclusive evidence that a single blood test can detect cancer cells, but they can provide information about your body’s condition. Here are some blood test for cancer to diagnose cancer include:
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test
This test is commonly used to screen for prostate cancer in men by counting the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. PSA is a protein found in the prostate gland. A high PSA may be a sign of prostate cancer. A high PSA level may also indicate inflammation, enlargement of the prostate, or other noncancerous conditions.
Circulating tumor cell test
A test to count the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in a blood sample. This test can identify cancer cells isolated from solid tumors and mixed in the blood. This diagnostic test can screen for colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer. A recent study showed that when combined with the immunohistochemical cytology (ICC) test, the CTC test has a 99% positive predictive value in detecting prostate cancer.
This is four times more reliable than the standard prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, which has a positive predictive value of only 25%. A complete blood count (CBC) test assesses a person’s overall health by measuring the cells in the blood, including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
How to test for cancer at home
Blood test at home contribute to identifying the disease in a greater way, and then the patient undergoes complete examinations and diagnosis until the treatment journey begins. At Lana Life Care for Home Health Care Services In Dubai, we stand by your side and support you throughout your treatment, and we help you discover the disease in the early stages through the various tests that we conduct.
Conculasion
At the conclusion of the text, blood test for cancer contribute to detecting the disease in the early stages, and there are many types of tests that the patient undergoes. At Lana Life Care, we conduct home blood tests for the purpose of preserving the patient’s privacy. These tests help in identifying the disease in the stages.
FAQ
Can a blood test detect cancer in the body?
Of course yes, as some blood tests help detect various cancerous tumors.
What is the blood test called for blood cancer?
Blood tests for cancer are called (cancer blood tests).
How Long Do Blood Test Results Take?
Blood tests usually take one to two days, but sometimes the period may take longer than that.
