Can a blood test diagnose things such as brain tumors and cancer? Are blood tests a good way of spotting problems and disease? What part of a blood test would diagnose these things, would it be a full blood count or another specialist test?
2007-08-22 21:15:16 · 9 answers · asked by Mark E 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
What sort of blood test would be done for a tumor marker?
2007-08-22 21:28:03 · update #1
or tumors in general
2007-08-22 21:28:35 · update #2
>>Blood test alone rarely diagnose brain tumors and cancer. But blood test along with other laboratory tests may help to diagnose cancer. Other test such as biopsy gives a definite diagnosis. CT Scan and MRI are used to diagnose brain tumors.
A blood test done for cancer detection is usually looking for levels of certain "protein" that possibly be due to cancer. Blood can also be tested for tumor markers. Those tumor markers are chemicals produced by tumor however some normal cells may produce them too. Thus tumor markers may lead to suspicion of cancer but further tests and investigation will be required.
>> Blood tests are good ways of spotting problems and diseases. The blood flows throughout the body to provide oxygen and nutrition and collects waste products back to the excretory system for disposal. As blood is circulating continuously on the entire body,it has direct communication to every part of the body. Any infection or abnormality in every part of body affects the the state of the bloodstream.
>>There are many tests to check for function of the different organs. Example: Blood chemistries will help to tell the condition of the liver, kidneys,pancreas, heart,etc. Complete blood count will generally give a clue to what is going on with the body.
Well, there are generally lots of blood tests. You may check this link: (Choose the test you want on the searchbar and eveything you want to know is there.)
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cbc/test.html
2007-08-23 00:26:07 · answer #1 · answered by ♥ lani s 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are certain blood tests for tumour markers. Tumour markers are proteins which are secreted by the tumour and are usually not present at all or in very small quantaties in a healthy person, but will be elevated in an individual with that specific cancer. Examples of tumour markers are PSA(prostate cancer) and CA125(ovarian cancer). Doctors will only do this test if they suspect this as the likely diagnosis.
Blood tests are not very good at spotting diseases without having a history and examination prior to having the investigation. A full blood count can suggest that there is a problem such as anaemia, and one of the causes of anaemia can be cancer, but it is not very specific. I do not know of a specific blood test for brain cancer, but there are some brain tumours that are endocrine secreting and these could be picked up by a blood test.
2007-08-24 10:12:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes there are blood tests that that can reveal the likelihood of some cancers. Such as PSA for Prostate CA, and CA 125 for Ovarian CA. There is also a body scan that can be done. I t costs about 500.00 dollars. The problem is what it shows is growing tissue. As you probably already know a cancer cell is a normal cell, it just doesn't stop growing. Also any and every scar will remain active in it's growth process for a full 2 years. Your scan will show many areas of "growing cells" throughout the body. Consider the fact that even a sprain or a strained muscle has minute scaring as it heals. Soon they will prefect these tests but it is not ready for the general public yet.
2007-08-25 22:04:51 · answer #3 · answered by lady_lovinlife 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes blood tests can be used as part of the diagnosis process for tumors.
Instruments such as archietect and siemens centaurs can be used to measure tumor markers such as CA-99 (and other tumor specific markers) by means of immunochemistry.
These tests are specialist tests but can be run on various machines provided they have the kits for the analysers.
2007-08-26 05:44:08 · answer #4 · answered by infinate_variable 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This q needs an answer from a haemotologist. Let me tell what I know. Others can add their knowledge to the q.
Disease which is caused by external agents (virus, bacteria, worms, poisons, parasites and so on) are easily picked up in blood tests. The leucocyte count in the blood will be high since the body resists invasive agents.
Internal ailments like diabetes, rheumatism, fractures leave markers in the blood stream and are easily picked up.
Tumours are not diseases, they are uncontrolled growths. I would imagine that if the tumour is really large the wbc count would be high. But to make certain tumours have to be read from either xrays or biopsies.
There are various specialist blood tests to test for various invasive agents or internal agents as well of course. Blood tests read for sugar, excess wbc's or rbc's, leucocytes, triglicerides(sp), and all sorts of other 'cytes' and 'ides'.
Hope others can add specialist info to this question. Of course it can be read up on the internet if you're so inclined.
2007-08-23 05:16:02 · answer #5 · answered by virtrava 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure, but the ordering physician needs to know what kinds of blood tests to order based on the patients complaints, symptoms and medical history. There are even tests for tumor markers.
***** Edit
Here is a website that describes specific tumor marker tests:
http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/St-Wr/Tumor-Marker-Tests.html
2007-08-23 04:24:19 · answer #6 · answered by RayeKaye 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Blood tests can pick up if you have almost everything, i don't think they can see if you have a tumour or something upless it has infected the blood....if you do want to see if you have a tumour, a scan would see! Hope this helps!
2007-08-23 04:20:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
blood tests can find leukemia other cancers use xrays mri cat scan etc If they find something they biopsy to check 4 cancer
2007-08-23 04:22:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they can't predict a tumor unless u take cerebral tissue for analysis/.......cancer is due to the uncontrolled breeding of some nervous cells...
2007-08-23 04:35:51 · answer #9 · answered by linglong 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋