Lewisville, TX – July 24, 2019 – Cancers are many but very different from each other. The only fact they have in common is that they can be successfully treated if diagnosed early. Diagnostic testing for cancer helps to detect and treat cancer before it spreads. Several blood tests are often conducted on patients to determine the presence of cancerous cells in the body.

“Blood tests can help doctors detect early signs of various cancers to help plan treatment,” explained Dr. Dasari. "However, further testing like biopsy may be needed to provide a definitive diagnosis of a case."

The following are some of the blood tests used in cancer cases:

• Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Testing – This is a screening tool that is commonly used to detect prostate cancer. PSA testing helps to measure the levels of prostate-specific antigen, which is a protein produced by cells in the prostate gland. High levels of PSA in the blood may indicate prostate cancer development as well as other conditions not related to cancer.

• Complete blood count (CBC) test – This is a blood test that helps to measure the condition and amount of various types of blood cells in a blood sample including blood platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells. Complete blood count test can help in diagnosing blood cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia by detecting the abnormal amounts of typical cells or abnormal cells found in the blood. It can also help doctors to determine whether the cancer has progressed to the bone marrow and even monitor the progress of treatments.

• Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125) testing – This is a tumor marker used in testing for ovarian cancer. The protein is found on the surface of ovarian cancer cells. The blood test helps to measure the levels of this antigen in order to diagnose ovarian cancer, monitor treatment progress, and also detect disease recurrence.

“Some of these blood tests provide false negatives and false positives,” continued Dr. Dasari. “That is why doctors should consider other health factors and symptoms and recommend further tests that will give a clear diagnosis for the patient.”

About Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group

The Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group has state-of-the-art facilities that offer individualized care to patients throughout North Texas. With a team of expert oncologists and other specialists on staff, the Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group treats a variety of cancers and blood disorders with an eye towards the newest advancements available in diagnostic technology and treatments.

Visit them at https://lewisvilleflowermoundoncology.com/services/ to know more.