Laboratory Tests
| Test | Used for |
|---|---|
| Complete blood count (CBC) | Blood cancers; monitoring treatment effects |
| PSA | Prostate cancer screening and monitoring |
| CA-125 | Ovarian cancer monitoring |
| CEA | Colorectal cancer monitoring |
| AFP | Liver and germ cell tumors |
| Circulating tumor DNA | Liquid biopsy for mutations and recurrence |
Imaging
CT scan
Detailed cross-sectional X-ray images for staging.
MRI
Soft-tissue detail for brain, spine, breast, pelvis and liver.
PET-CT
Shows metabolic activity to find spread and assess response.
Ultrasound & Mammography
Breast, thyroid, abdominal and guided biopsies.
Biopsy & Pathology
A biopsy removes tissue for microscopic examination and is required to confirm most cancers. Pathology reports describe tumor type, grade, margins and biomarkers such as ER/PR/HER2, PD-L1 or MSI status.
Medically reviewed content for education only — not a substitute for advice from your oncology team.