As a way to diagnose various diseasesoften use a blood test. In cancer, this study is also effective. The analysis makes it possible to determine the number of leukocytes and erythrocytes in the blood, their sedimentation rate, leukocyte formula, hemoglobin level. All these indicators help to identify diseases at an early stage.
Oncomarkers
These are special proteins secreted by cancer.by cells. A tumor produces substances that are different in their properties from normal substances of the human body. According to them, it is possible to suspect the disease. The answer to the question of whether the blood test shows cancer will be yes. Now markers of many types of oncological diseases are already described. These include cancer of the breast, lung, pancreas, intestines, stomach, thyroid, and others. However, such studies are not performed very often. Why? Now tell.
Blood test for cancer
The study on tumor markers has a highcost, but at the same time inaccurate results. Thus, the analysis can show the presence of a tumor (which is actually absent) in the case of an inflammatory disease. For example, the ovarian cancer marker responds intensely to hepatitis, heart failure, liver cirrhosis and other pathologies leading to fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. In the presence of diseases such as pancreatitis, gastric ulcer, increased tumor markers designed to diagnose cancer of the digestive tract.
However, there are also situations whencancer by blood analysis is possible with one hundred percent guarantee. For example, in the case when the indicator of a specific prostatic antigen has a level of more than 30, it is possible to say with precision about the presence of prostate cancer. If the value of the marker is increased, but not so much, categorically declare that a person has oncology, it is impossible. Such indicators may be evidence of adenoma or prostatitis. To confirm the assumptions should conduct an additional survey.
In today's realities, tumor markers are moredegrees are not used to identify the primary tumor, but to detect the recurrence of cancer that has already been treated. Often, such a study allows you to learn about the danger of re-development of the tumor before it actually appears and due to this, take the necessary measures in advance. The number of tumor markers is increasing every year, which is undoubtedly good news.
Blood sampling
The procedure should be carried out on an empty stomach (not earlier,than eight hours after the last meal) in the morning. Blood sampling is carried out from a vein in a sitting or lying position. Patients who have undergone a full course of treatment for cancer should have a blood test every 3-4 months. In cancer, not only the diagnosis of tumor markers is effective, other types of research should be carried out. Let's talk about them in more detail.
Complete blood count will show cancer?
It is extremely difficult to give a definite answer.It all depends on the location of the tumor, the nature of the disease, as well as the individual characteristics of the organism. And yet, according to some distinctive characteristics of peripheral blood, an attentive doctor may suspect a malignant tumor.
На что же нужно обращать внимание?First of all, on the quantitative content and quality of leukocytes. A blood test for cancer usually shows a significant increase in white blood cells, especially at the expense of young forms. For example, with leukemia, leukocytosis may be off-scale. Also, an experienced specialist in case of leukemia, when examined under a smear microscope, will most likely notice myeloblasts or lymphoblasts.
In cancer, a blood test is almost alwaysshows an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a decrease in hemoglobin. If there are no cases of blood loss in the patient's history, while he leads a normal life and eats well, such research results should alert the doctor. Hemoglobin decreases most rapidly in the presence of malignant tumors in the stomach or intestines. In some forms of leukemia, liver cancer, among other things, there will be a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, worsening of blood clotting.
It should be noted that it is impossible to diagnose cancer solely by a general blood test. There are diseases that, when examined, are very similar to oncology, but there is no tumor in the body.
Biochemical research
Not only general, but also biochemical blood testmay indicate cancer. Thus, in the case of a pancreatic tumor, the blood glucose level changes, in the case of biliary tract cancer, bilirubin increases due to bile duct blockage, the malignancy in the liver makes itself felt by an increase in the activity of aminotransferases, and so on.
Oncological diseases are very diverse andnumerous, their diagnosis is not always simple. Often it is impossible to determine the disease by one analysis, the procedures should be carried out in a complex. Make an appointment with an oncologist if you suspect a tumor process. The specialist will tell you what research and in what order to go through in order to establish an accurate diagnosis.
