The most common type of test used to diagnose cancer is a biopsy. A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue from the body for examination under a microscope. Biopsies can be performed on almost any part of the body. The two most common types of biopsies are needle biopsies and incisional biopsies.
Other tests that may be used to diagnose cancer or to find out if cancer has spread include:
-Imaging tests such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) scans
-Blood tests, which look for substances produced by cancers or other abnormal cells in the blood
-Breath tests, which measure chemicals in the breath that may be signs of certain types of cancer
-Genetic testing, which looks for changes in genes that may be linked to an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer
-Tissue sample tests, which examine changes in DNA