TestsCancer Diagnosis

Some types of cancer may be detected by routine self-exam or other screening measures before the symptoms become serious.

Cancer Diagnosis Without Biopsy

You can find certain types of cancer without a biopsy. There are a few different ways to do this.

Lymph Node Biopsy

If your doctor says you should get a lymph node biopsy, it's because they need to check for signs of disease, such as cancer.

Bone Biopsy

A bone biopsy is a test that takes a sample of tissue or cells from your bone to check for cancer or other bone diseases.

Nuclear Medicine Scan

A nuclear medicine scan uses small amounts of radiation to create pictures of tissues, bones, and organs inside the body.

Bone Scans

A bone scan is a nuclear imaging test that can help tell you if you have certain types of bone disease.

FISH Test

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a test that "maps" the genetic material in human cells.

Dealing With Cancer ‘Scanxiety’

“Scanxiety,” a term people in the cancer community use to describe the nervousness around the time of diagnostic tests.

DiagnosisYou Have Cancer -- Now What?

When you find out that you have cancer, you may feel a flood of emotions, such as disbelief, fear, and anger.

How to Read Your Pathology Report

Pathology reports use technical medical language and jargon, so check with your doctor if you have any questions.

How to Handle a Cancer Misdiagnosis

One of the reasons correctly diagnosing cancer is so difficult is that some cancers are harder to spot than others.

Stages of Cancer

Cancer is typically labeled in stages from I to IV, with IV being the most serious.