How can someone be diagnosed with cancer?

As an expert in the field of medical diagnostics, I can explain the process of diagnosing cancer. Cancer is typically diagnosed through a multi-step process that involves various medical tests and evaluations. Here's a general outline of how a cancer diagnosis is made: 1. Symptoms and Risk Factors: The process often begins with the patient or a healthcare provider noticing symptoms or risk factors that could be associated with cancer. 2. Physical Examination: A doctor will perform a physical examination to check for any abnormalities that might suggest the presence of cancer. 3. Imaging Tests: If the physical examination or symptoms suggest cancer, the doctor may order imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI, or PET scans to get a detailed look at the suspected area. 4. Biopsy: If imaging tests or other signs indicate a potential cancerous growth, the next step is usually a biopsy. This involves removing a sample of tissue from the area in question for further examination. 5. Pathology: The biopsy specimen is then examined under a microscope by a pathologist. They look for the presence of cancer cells and can also perform tests on the cells' proteins, DNA, and RNA to confirm the diagnosis. 6. Staging: If cancer is diagnosed, further tests may be done to determine the stage of the cancer, which is a measure of how far the cancer has spread. 7. Treatment Planning: Once the cancer is diagnosed and staged, a treatment plan is developed by a team of healthcare professionals.

Cancer is nearly always diagnosed by an expert who has looked at cell or tissue samples under a microscope. In some cases, tests done on the cells' proteins, DNA, and RNA can help tell doctors if there's cancer. ... The tissue sample is called the biopsy specimen. The testing process is sometimes referred to as pathology.