How Is Lung Cancer Diagnosed?
How lung cancer is diagnosed differs from person to person. Your medical team chooses tests based on several factors:
- Your medical history
- Your symptoms
- Findings from your physical exam and test results
Imaging Tests
Your doctor might order imaging tests that may help find lung cancer. Imaging tests make pictures of the inside of your body. These pictures help doctors to find lung cancer, to see if it has spread, to see if treatment is working or to find a cancer that has come back after treatment. These tests include:
Procedures
To see if something suspicious is actually lung cancer, the doctor must study tissue or fluid from or around the lung. Many different procedures allow doctors to remove cells or biopsy from the body and look at them under a microscope to determine if they are cancer. These tests include:
Many researchers are working to develop tests that can make a difference in early lung cancer screening and survival. If you think you are at risk for lung cancer or if you have any symptoms, talk to your doctor about tests to see if you have lung cancer.
Page last updated: October 9, 2024