Source: Cancer Resource Room

When you have cancer, you will have tests on a regular basis. Some of these tests are used to help make a diagnosis. Other tests can tell whether the cancer has spread to another part of the body. Here are some common tests that you may have:

Imaging Tests (tests that take pictures of the body)

• Chest x-ray — A chest x-ray shows the health of the lungs and heart. It is also used to see whether or not cancer has spread to the lungs or ribs.
• CT scan—A series of x-rays are taken in thin cross-sections. The x-rays create pictures of your organs in layers. This is an excellent way to find a tumor, to see what size it is, and to see whether or not it has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other tissues. You may need to drink a special liquid, called contrast, to help outline the digestive organs. An IV is used to give the patient contrast “dye” that travels through the blood. Contrast dye in the blood makes a person feel very warm for a brief time, and causes the sensation of needing to pee urgently. Both feelings pass quickly. CT scans are not painful, but do require lying on a table for about 30 minutes.
• MRI—An MRI uses magnets and radio waves to show cross-sections of part of the body. It is like a CT scan, but it is more detailed and does not use x-rays.
• Bone scan—A bone scan uses a radioactive substance to make a picture of the entire skeleton. Anything that interferes with normal bone tissue (arthritis, infection, injury, cancer) shows up as a dark spot on the scan. If a bone scan shows a spot, regular x-rays, and a CT or MRI scan can be done of the area to show what caused the abnormality.

Blood Tests
Blood can be tested for many things. One of the most common tests is blood counts. Blood counts change if the number of red cells, white cells, or platelets has gone up or down. The counts are compared to what is normal for you. Blood counts can make a difference in your treatment schedule or medicines. Here are some of the blood tests that you may have:

• Red Blood Cells
  Red blood cells carry oxygen to all the body’s cells. Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to the cells and gives red blood cells their color.

  Hematocrit measures red blood cells in your blood. An average hematocrit is:

• 36 to 46 for women
• 41 to 53 for men

Hemoglobin measures the amount of oxygen-carrying proteins in your blood. An average hemoglobin is:

• 12 to 16 for women
• 13 to 18 for men
  
  
• White Blood Cells
  There are several types of white blood cells. Each type of white blood cell has its own job to do in fighting infections. One type is called the neutrophil. Neutrophils are the first cells that respond to an infection.

  WBC (White Blood Count) measures the total number of white cells in the blood. An average white blood count is:

  • 4,000 to 11,000 for men and women

  ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Count) measures the number of neutrophils in the blood. An average neutrophil count is:

  • Higher than 1,000 for men and women
    
    
• Platelets
  Platelets control bleeding by helping the blood clot.

  A platelet count measures how many platelets are in your blood. An average platelet count is:

  • 150,000 to 350,000 for men and women.

These are only some of the tests that you may have. You may have more detailed tests, depending on what type of cancer you have. For example, if you have colon cancer, you may have a test called a colonoscopy. There are descriptions of the specific tests for each disease. Just look under the type of cancer you have for more detailed descriptions. You also might not have all the tests listed above. Your doctor will order the tests he/she feels is necessary to give you the best care.

Support & Education Programs

We know that being diagnosed with cancer can be stressful for you and your family. We offer a variety of cancer support services to help patients and families gain the support and information they will need to meet the challenges ahead.

Look for the upcoming workshop on "Blood Counts...What You Should Know" and other support, wellness, and educational programs offered in the HOPES calendar.

Services At Massachusetts General Hospital

• Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Evaluation Center
• Department of Radiology - Includes MRI, CT scan, PET scan and more.