Blood tests for cancer?

Question

i am due to get a blood test from the nurse for cholesterol and liver functions etc. when it goes to the hospital will they automatically scan it for cancers too? i'm 50

Answer 1

No, the tests will only be for liver function and LDL and LDH Cholesterol. Unless you have symptoms of cancer, these will not be routinely tested for.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

No.

There is no "one" blood test for cancer.  Each type of cancer requires a specific test -- and that means DOZENS of different tests.  In fact, some cancers don't even have a test yet.

The doctor will not do tests for cancer unless there is some other reason to believe that you need it.

If you are concerned, you should speak to your doctor.  Be quite frank and open about your symptoms (if any) and follow his recommendations.

Answer 4

In a word ; No.

There really isn't any single test to detect all cancers and general blood tests cannot usually identify cancer unless a request was made to check for specific markers that could be associated with a particular type of cancer. 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. This may include X-Rays, CT, MRI or PET scans.

A general blood test such as a Full Blood Count can however provide 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.