Tests and investigations
Tests and investigations help to find out:
- if you have cancer
- if you do have cancer, what type, how far it has spread (its stage) and where it is
- what treatment you need
- how well your cancer is responding to treatment
- whether any cancer cells remain after you have finished a course of treatment.
Most tests are carried out at an outpatient visit to the hospital. Many involve a short appointment with a specialist. You may have a range of tests at the same appointment.
The cancer types section lists the tests most likely to be performed for each cancer type.
The main tests are: