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Diagnosis
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There is no single test
that can accurately diagnose cancer. The complete evaluation of a patient
usually requires a thorough history and physical examination along with
diagnostic testing.
Many tests are needed to
determine whether a person has cancer, or if another condition (such as an
infection) is mimicking the symptoms of cancer. Effective diagnostic testing
is used to confirm or eliminate the presence of disease, monitor the disease
process, and to plan for and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.
In some cases, it is
necessary to repeat testing when a person’s condition has changed if a
sample collected was not of good quality, or an abnormal test result needs
to be confirmed.
Diagnostic procedures for
cancer may include imaging, laboratory tests (including tests for tumor
markers), tumor biopsy, endoscopic examination, surgery, or genetic testing.
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