blood test?

Question

this may sound really stupid but if someone had something seriously wrong with them like cancer or a tumour, would it DEFINITLEY show up on a blood test? Is there any way it could be missed....like do you need a scan to tell for sure? thanks for any help

Answer 1

Not necessarily and not usually a blood test on it's own. 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. For instance a Full Blood Count test gives 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.
But a thorough CT scan/PET and bone density scans along with specific blood tests and the knowledge and experience of a clever oncologist would be the best and most accurate way of identifying any possible abnormalities.

Answer 2

Cancers can easily be missed on a blood test.

It depends on what test is done and what cancer is present.

They can also be missed on a scan. I am sure you have heard of or read many cases where a cancer could have been detected earlier. Sometimes it shows up on the scan but a mistake has been made reading it, etc.

What you need is a clever and dedicated doctor.

Answer 3

Yes some things will show up but I was a puxxle for over a year and finally after my second bone marrow biopsey and two kidney biopsies I was diagnosed with lymphomascytic Lymphoma... Good luck Grant M in Pennsylvania

Answer 4

First, i m a lab Dr. and cancer diagnosis can't be from blood tests. only evaluating the treatment response and re currency of disease can be done from blood tests.
As i know there are 5 cancer types that can be diagnosed definitely at the earliest beginning time of disease :
- Prostate cancer
( by rectal examination and prostate biopsy if necessary )
- Colo rectal cancer ( by colonoschopy )
- Endometrium cancer
( by genital examination , pap smear and endometrial curettage )
- Breast cancer
( by breast examination and mammography )
- Skin cancer ( by skin examination and skin biopsy )