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If you or someone you care about is facing a cancer diagnosis, it’s natural to have many questions about tests and what comes next. Cancer Council Queensland can support you and provide you with answers, guidance and care you need.
Our team is here to listen and support you.
If you’re experiencing symptoms that could be linked to cancer, your doctor may want to test for cancer to help them understand the cause. These tests can help confirm if you have cancer, and if so, determine the type, if or how far it has spread, and assist in developing the best treatment plan for you.
The specific tests recommended for you will depend on your symptoms and the type of cancer suspected. Additional cancer tests may also be used throughout your treatment to determine if it is working.
Some of the tests you might have include:
Your doctor will start by taking a full medical history, including your family history, and ask about your symptoms and risk factors. They’ll also perform a physical examination to check for any lumps or changes in your body.
Blood investigation for cancer can check the number of cells (known as a full blood count) and how well your kidneys and liver are functioning.
Blood tests can also assess tumour markers which may indicate cancer, though there can be other explanations for high levels.
This involves a small sample of tissue being removed from the area of concern. A pathologist examines it under a microscope to check for cancer cells. This can be done in a specialist’s office, at a radiology clinic, or in a hospital.
This test for cancer checks if it has spread to your bones. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into your vein. This material is attracted to areas where there is cancer. A scanner then captures the information and creates an image that can be interpreted on a computer. The test is painless and harmless.
A CT (computerised tomography) scan uses X-ray beams to create detailed cross-sectional pictures of your body. It helps identify tumours, their size, shape, and location. Abdominal CT scans can detect bladder, bowel, kidney, ovarian, and stomach cancers.
Before the scan, a dye is injected into a vein to help make the images clearer. You might feel a warm sensation spread through your body and notice a strange taste in your mouth for a few minutes. Some people also feel an urge to urinate, but this sensation usually passes quickly.
During the scan, you’ll lie on a table that moves in and out of the CT scanner, which is large and round like a doughnut. The scan will focus on your chest, abdomen, and pelvis to see if the cancer has spread to these areas. The process typically takes 5-10 minutes and is painless.
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of your body. A dye may be injected into a vein to help enhance the images. Through the procedure, you will lie on a treatment table that moves into a metal tube.
The MRI scan can take between 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the area being scanned and how many images need to be taken.
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan combined with a CT scan provides detailed information about where cancer occurs. This PET-CT scan is often used after surgery to check if the cancer has spread or if it’s come back.
Before the scan, you will be injected with a glucose solution that contains a small amount of radioactive material. Cancer cells absorb more of this glucose than normal cells, so they appear brighter on the scan. After the injection, you’ll need to sit quietly for 30 to 90 minutes to allow the glucose to spread through your body. Once this is done, the scan itself will take about 30 minutes.
This painless test for cancer uses sound waves to create pictures of the inside of your body. A gel is applied to your skin, and a small device called a transducer is moved over the area of
concern. The ultrasound sends out soundwaves that bounce back when they encounter something dense, such as an organ or a tumor. A computer then creates a picture from these echoes. The scan is painless and takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Based on your symptoms and the area of your body affected, you may have additional tests for cancer. These can include:
This procedure is used to check for bowel cancer. During a colonoscopy, your doctor will insert a flexible tube with a camera, called a colonoscope, through your anus and into your rectum and colon to examine the entire length of the large bowel.
Air or carbon dioxide will be gently introduced to expand the colon, allowing the doctor to carefully look for any abnormal tissue, such as polyps, and take small tissue samples (biopsies) if needed. The procedure typically takes around 20-30 minutes. To ensure you are comfortable, you’ll likely be given an anesthetic to minimize any pain or discomfort during the procedure.
If you have an abnormal cervical screening test result, you may need to have a colposcopy.
A colposcopy is a procedure that closely examines the cervix, vagina, and vulva for abnormal cells. During the procedure, the doctor uses a speculum to view the area through a colposcope, a magnifying instrument with a light. Your doctor may apply a fluid to highlight abnormal areas. It takes about 10-15 minutes, and you cause minor discomfort. If needed, a biopsy will be taken during the colposcopy, and the tissue sample will be sent to a lab for analysis.
An endoscopy may be recommended if your doctor suspects you have oesophageal or stomach cancer. The procedure allows your doctor to see inside your digestive tract to examine the lining. Typically done as day surgery, you may be asked not to eat or drink for 4-6 hours beforehand. Before it starts, your throat will be numbed with a local anesthetic, and you’ll receive a sedative to help you relax.
A flexible tube with a light and camera will be passed through your mouth into your stomach. If any suspicious areas are found, a small tissue sample (biopsy) may be taken. The procedure takes about 15 minutes and may cause a sore throat or bloating afterward.
Screening is one of the most effective ways to detect early signs of cancer. National screening programs are available in Australia to detect breast cancer, bowel cancer and cervical cancer.
On 1st July 2024, the eligible screening age for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program was lowered from 50 to 45. Eligible people aged 45 to 49 can now request access to a free screening test kit every two years.
Cancer symptoms can be vague and easily mistaken for other conditions, like headaches, fatigue, weight loss, or a persistent cough. If you’re concerned, the best way to see if you have cancer is by consulting your doctor. They may perform a physical exam and test for cancer using blood work, imaging scans, or procedures like a colonoscopy, endoscopy, or colposcopy, depending on your symptoms.
Blood screening for cancer can provide useful information about your overall health, but it cannot diagnose cancer on its own. Blood may be tested for tumour markers, which can be higher in people with cancer, but other conditions can also cause raised levels. Additionally, some people with cancer may have normal tumour marker levels. A full blood count checks the levels of red and white blood cells, platelets, and helps assess how well your kidneys and liver are functioning.
A CT scan is a valuable tool for identifying tumours, including their size, shape, and location. It can detect cancers in the bladder, bowel, kidneys, ovaries, and stomach. Using X-ray beams, a CT scan creates detailed cross-sectional images of the body, helping doctors pinpoint abnormal growths in different organs. However, it doesn’t always confirm whether a growth is cancerous, so further tests may be needed.
