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| About Cancer |
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Investigations and tests
If it is thought that a person has cancer, doctors will carry out various tests to find out if this is the case, where it might be, what type it is and how best to treat it. The type of tests that are done, will depend on the type of cancer that is suspected. Here are some types of tests that cancer patients might have when they are being diagnosed and when they are being treated. Your parent may have one, or a few, of these tests.
Blood Tests
Blood tests are taken by a needle into the arm. The needle withdraws the blood, and the blood is then tested to see whether the patient is healthy. Blood tests are taken for all types of illnesses, not just cancer.
Biopsy
A Biopsy is when cells or tissues are removed from a person to be looked at under a microscope and studied to see if there are any signs of disease. They can take a biopsy to test for many diseases, not just cancer. There are different ways of removing cells to be tested; it depends on where the cells are. For example, you can take a shaving of skin to test some skin cells, but you might need to take some fluid with a long needle to test liver cells.
Endoscopy
An endoscopy is a long tube that has a camera on the end. This is used to look inside the body in places where the tube can go. There are various investigations that can be done with this technique and they are named after the part of the body that is being inspected.
Gastroscopy
A gastroscopy is an investigation where a tube with a camera at the end is used to inspect the stomach. It is called gastroscopy because the medical name for the stomach is gastro. The tube will be put down through the mouth and the person will do swallowing movements to help it go down more easily. They will also be given some drugs to help them relax the muscles to make it less uncomfortable.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is an investigation where a tube with a camera at the end is used to inspect the large bowels. It is called colonoscopy because the medical name for the large bowel is colon. The tube will be put into the person through the rectum (the back passage). They will be given some drugs to help them relax the muscles to make it less uncomfortable.
Bronchoscopy
A bronchoscopy is an investigation where a tube with a camera at the end is used to inspect the windpipe leading to the lungs. It is called brochoscopy because the medical name for the windpipe is bronchies. The tube will be put down through the mouth. They will be given some drugs to help them relax the muscles to make it less uncomfortable.
CT/CAT Scan (Computerised Axial Tomography Scan)
The CT scan is like a clever camera that can take X-ray pictures from all over a body, and puts them together on a computer to make a 3D image. The patient is often given a drink or an injection that can make them feel hot all over. This is so that certain areas will stand out more in the photos. The CT scan is painless and takes about 30 minutes. The patient lies on a couch that moves through a tunnel. Inside the tunnel is the scanner which takes the pictures.
MRI Scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan)
The MRI scan uses magnets to create an image of a body on a computer. Like the CT scan, the MRI scan is painless, but again, they may be given an injection or drink so that bits of their bodies show up. It may take longer than 30 minutes to do the MRI scan and the patient has to lie very still inside a metal cylinder. The machine is very loud and so patients are usually asked to wear ear plugs. Doctors prefer to use the MRI scan when looking at blood, the head and muscles, as it produces clearer pictures than the CT scan for these area.
Ultrasound Test
The Ultrasound test uses a microphone to make sound waves that create a picture of a body which can be seen on a computer. The microphone is passed over the body on top of a transparent gel that has been put on the patient's skin whilst the patient lies down. This test is painless.
Tumour Marker
A Tumour marker is a bodily substance that is found in greater amounts in a person who has cancer. In some patients, their urine or tissues are tested to see how much of a certain substance is in them.
As the type of tests that people have is different depending on the type of cancer, it is possible that your parent may have a different test to those mentioned here. If this is the case, ask them, or a health professional such as your school nurse to explain about their test, and what it involves.
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