Introduction

The first sign that you could have cancer may come from a routine screening test (such as a mammogram or colonoscopy), a health exam to identify the cause of a symptom or problem, or a procedure to treat another condition. 

If your doctor believes that you could have cancer, he or she will order several different kinds of tests to confirm that you have cancer and not another disease or condition, identify the kind of cancer you have, and find out how far the cancer has spread. After using these tests to diagnose, or identify, your cancer, your doctor might use more tests to find the best treatments for your disease, track your treatment progress, and monitor your overall health.

Explore the links in the column to the right to learn about cancer screening and diagnosis, the various tests you may need, and important questions to ask about your diagnosis and testing.