Diagnosis

Count on the physicians at Rush Copley Medical Center to provide an accurate diagnosis if you experience symptoms that suggest cancer or if your doctor believes you need follow-up tests after a routine screening.

Your doctor may start by discussing your medical history and conducting a physical exam. Then, he or she may ask you to take some diagnostic tests. You can trust that we’ll use the best method to quickly and accurately diagnose your condition so you can begin any necessary treatment as soon as possible.

Diagnostic Lab Tests

Your doctor may order a blood test to check for tumor markers, or biomarkers. Tumor markers are substances produced by cells in your body, and high levels may suggest certain types of cancer. Your doctor also may look at tumor marker levels to diagnose the stage of your cancer or to see how your body is responding to treatment.

Advanced Imaging Procedures

Your doctor may ask you to take an imaging test so he or she can assess abnormal masses inside your body. Your doctor may take advantage of:

• Computerized tomography (CT) or positron emission tomography (PET) scans
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests
• Mammography
• Ultrasound services
• X-rays, including mammograms

Biopsy Procedures

During a biopsy, your doctor removes a small piece of tissue to examine under a microscope to check for cancer cells. Your doctor may recommend:

• Endoscopic biopsy – Removes tissue through an endoscope, a thin, flexible lighted tube used to look inside the digestive tract
• Needle biopsy – Removes fluid or tissue using a tiny needle
• Sentinel lymph node biopsy – Uses a safe, radioactive dye to locate your sentinel lymph node so it can be pinpointed and surgically removed
• Stereotactic breast biopsy – Uses computer-generated images to accurately pinpoint breast abnormalities and extracts tissue with a tiny needle
• Surgical biopsy – Removes all or part of a tumor