What is metastasis and why is it dangerous?
When will the doctor usually order a bone marrow study? Usually bone marrow studies are ordered if some abnormality shows up in the complete blood count or peripheral smear. It is a routine test for suspicion of leukemia or to check if cancer has spread to the bone marrow. The presence of abnormal blood cells is frequently an early sign of tumor cell invasion of the bone marrow. Link What is a metastatic workup? A metastatic workup is done to see if cancer has spread to other parts of the body. It usually consists of bone and liver scans; sometimes brain and lung scans are added. Why would the doctor order a bone scan if my cancer is in the breast? This is a relatively routine check, so don't let it frighten you. It is done because the bone is a common place for breast cancer to spread. What does the doctor determine from the liver scan test? Although they are not truly diagnostic, these tests are valuable in alerting the doctor to the presence of...