Can a Blood Test Detect Bowel Cancer?
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a type of cancer that affects the large intestine and rectum. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States and affects both men and women. Although there are several tests available to detect bowel cancer, one of the more popular tests is a blood test.
Blood Test
A blood test is a medical procedure used to detect the presence of specific substances in a patient’s blood. It is used to diagnose a variety of conditions, including cancer. In the case of bowel cancer, the blood test looks for the presence of certain proteins, which are known as tumor markers. These markers are usually produced when a tumor is present in the body, and they can be used to detect the presence of cancer.
Tumor Markers
Tumor markers are proteins that are produced by cells in the body when a tumor is present. They can be used to detect the presence of cancer in the body. Most types of cancer have their own specific tumor markers, and for bowel cancer, the most commonly used markers are carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA).
Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a tumor marker produced by the cells in the body when a tumor is present. It is most commonly used to detect the presence of bowel cancer, and it can also be used to monitor the progress of the disease.
Carbohydrate Antigen (CA)
Carbohydrate antigen (CA) is another type of tumor marker that is used to detect the presence of bowel cancer. It is produced by the cells in the body when a tumor is present, and it can also be used to monitor the progress of the disease.
Overall, a blood test can be used to detect the presence of bowel cancer. It looks for the presence of certain tumor markers, which are proteins that are produced by the cells in the body when a tumor is present. The most commonly used tumor markers for bowel cancer are CEA and CA.