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How is cancer found
There’s no single, simple test for cancer. Cancer doesn’t always have signs or symptoms either. Cancer is sometimes found accidentally during routine tests or other investigations.
Some cancers are easier to find – for instance changes to your skin that may be signs of skin cancer. Whenever you notice something about your health that doesn’t seem right, you should always talk to your doctor. Many things will turn out not to be cancer.
What are common signs of cancer?
 a sore that doesn’t heal unusual bleeding or discharge persistent indigestion or difficulty swallowing persistent hoarseness or cough change in your normal bowel habits unexplained weight loss.Cancer screening programs look for cancer in apparently healthy people who have no signs of cancer. Early detection of cancer can make a difference to its successful treatment. Find out more...
Tests for cancer
If your doctor thinks you may have cancer, they will order different tests depending on your symptoms and which area they think may be affected. It’s important to get as much information as possible about any cancer, as it helps doctors work out which treatment is best. Making an accurate diagnosis of cancer can take time and may be a very anxious time. Talk to your doctor and ask questions, so that you know what is happening.
Diagnostic imaging
X-rays, MRIs, CAT scans and ultrasound are usually painless and produce pictures of the inside of your body that specialist doctors (radiologists) interpret. They can also help determine if a cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Doctors can also look inside your body with a long flexible tube with a light on the end. Commonly they can look inside your lungs (bronchoscopy), colon (colonoscopy) and abdomen (laparoscopy). These tests can be uncomfortable.
Samples of tissue
By looking at tissue samples under a microscope, specialists can see whether cancer cells are present, what type it is and whether they are likely to spread. Samples can be collected through cell scrapings or tissue biopsies. Biopsies are often done with a fine needle under a local anaesthetic.
Find out more Go to our Online library
Read About cancer
What is cancer?
Lab tests online - this Australian site describes clinical lab tests that are part of routine care as well as diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of conditions and diseases Cancer.Net - go to diagnosis and treatment>diagnosing cancer>tests and procedures  Top
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