Cancer Testing & Diagnosis

When your care team finds an area of concern while conducting a physical exam or another diagnostic test, like a colonoscopy, they may remove a small piece of tissue from the area to examine for cancer cells. This is called a biopsy.

A biopsy is often the most reliable way to confirm a cancer diagnosis.

For nonsolid samples, like a cyst or fluid-filled tumor, a fine needle may be needed to remove fluid to examine instead of a tissue sample.

Depending on the circumstances of your biopsy, you may only need local anesthesia for your procedure and you may go home the same day.

Imaging exams create detailed pictures of organs, bones and tissues inside the body. Common imaging tests used to help diagnose cancer include CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, ultrasounds, mammograms and X-rays. These exams help doctors identify tumors, evaluate abnormal findings and determine whether cancer has spread.

After your images are reviewed, the results are shared with your multidisciplinary cancer care team to help guide diagnosis and treatment planning. Depending on your diagnosis, you may need additional imaging throughout treatment to monitor your response to care.

Endoscopic procedures use a thin, flexible tube with a camera to examine areas inside the body that cannot be seen during a routine physical exam. These procedures can help detect abnormal tissue and identify potential signs of cancer.

If needed, your physician can collect a biopsy sample during the procedure to help confirm a diagnosis.

Common endoscopic procedures include:

• Endoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Laparoscopy