As a way to diagnose various diseases, a blood test is often used. In cancer, this study is also effective. The analysis makes it possible to find out the number of leukocytes and red blood cells in the blood, their sedimentation rate, leukocyte formula, and hemoglobin level. All these indicators help to detect diseases at an early stage.
Tumor markers
These are special proteins secreted by cancer cells. A tumor produces substances that in their properties are different from the normal substances of the human body. On them and manages to suspect the disease. The answer to the question of whether a blood test shows cancer will be in the affirmative. Markers of many types of cancer are already described . These include cancer of the breast, lung, pancreas, intestines, stomach, thyroid gland and others. However, such studies are not carried out very often. Why? Now we will tell.
Cancer blood test
Research on tumor markers is notable for its high cost, but at the same time, inaccurate results. So, the analysis can show the presence of a tumor (which actually is not) in the case of an inflammatory disease. For example, a marker of ovarian cancer responds intensively to hepatitis, heart failure, liver cirrhosis and other pathologies that lead to accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. In the presence of diseases such as pancreatitis, gastric ulcer, tumor markers are designed to diagnose gastrointestinal cancer.
However, there are situations when it is possible to determine cancer by a blood test with a 100% guarantee. For example, in the case when the indicator of specific prostatic antigen has a level of more than 30, we can accurately speak about the presence of prostate cancer. If the value of the marker is increased, but not so categorically, it is impossible to state categorically that a person has oncology. Such indicators may be evidence of adenoma or prostatitis. An additional examination should be carried out to confirm the assumptions.
In today's reality, tumor markers are used to a greater extent not to determine the primary tumor, but to detect relapse of cancer that has already been treated. Often, such a study allows you to find out about the danger of the re-development of the tumor even before its actual appearance and due to this take the necessary measures in advance. The number of tumor markers is increasing every year, which is certainly good news.
Blood sampling
The procedure should be performed on an empty stomach (not earlier than eight hours after the last meal) in the morning. Blood sampling is carried out from a vein in a sitting or lying position. Patients who have undergone a full course of cancer treatment should do a blood test every 3-4 months. With cancer, not only diagnosis for tumor markers is effective, but other types of studies should be carried out. Let's talk about them in more detail.
Will a general blood test show cancer?
It is extremely difficult to give a definite answer. It all depends on the location of the tumor, the nature of the disease, as well as the individual characteristics of the body. Nevertheless, according to some distinctive characteristics of peripheral blood, an attentive doctor may suspect a malignant formation.
What should you pay attention to? First of all, on the quantitative content and quality of white blood cells. A blood test for cancer usually shows a significant increase in white blood cells, especially due to young forms. For example, with leukemia, leukocytosis can have an overwhelming rate. Also, an experienced specialist in the case of leukemia, when examined under a microscope, a smear will probably notice myeloblasts or lymphoblasts.
In cancer, a blood test almost always shows an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a decrease in hemoglobin. If the patient has no history of blood loss, while he leads a normal lifestyle and eats well, such results of the studies should alert the doctor. Hemoglobin decreases most intensively in the presence of malignant tumors in the stomach or intestines. In some forms of leukemia, liver cancer, among other things, there will be a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, a deterioration in coagulation.
It is worth noting that it is impossible to diagnose cancer solely by a general blood test . There are diseases that, when examined, are very similar to oncology, but there is no tumor in the body.
Biochemical research
Not only a general, but also a biochemical blood test can indicate cancer. So, in the case of a pancreatic tumor, the blood glucose level changes , in the case of bile duct cancer, bilirubin rises due to clogging of the bile ducts, malignant formation in the liver makes itself felt by an increase in the activity of aminotransferases and so on.
Oncological diseases are very diverse and numerous, their diagnosis is not always simple. Often, it is impossible to determine the disease from one analysis, the procedures must be carried out in combination. Make an appointment with an oncologist if you suspect a tumor process. The specialist will tell you what studies and in what order should be taken to establish an accurate diagnosis.