Skin Cancer Lab Tests
Your doctor may also refer you for blood tests such as:
- Complete blood count (CBC)听measures the number of red, white, and other blood cells to ensure proper bone marrow function. It also gauges whether treatment is affecting blood cell counts.
- Serum chemistry test听evaluates levels of electrolytes, such as calcium and potassium, and certain enzymes (proteins). Doing so shows how well various organs are functioning. Abnormal levels of these substances can mean that cancer has spread.
- Tumor marker tests听check for certain proteins that skin cancer cells produce in the blood. We use these tests:
- Before treatment to help diagnose skin cancer and see if it has spread elsewhere in the body
- During treatment to assess its effectiveness
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Current as of: 9/2019
Stanford Health Education, 2020