Making the Diagnosis
Cancer specialists called oncologists will evaluate symptoms, perform a physical examination, and order blood tests and X-rays. The only way to tell for sure whether cells are cancerous, however, is to take a tissue sample, called a biopsy. The cells are looked at under a microscope. Doctors can tell the type and stage of cancer based on the biopsy sample.
At the time of diagnosis, staging of the cancer is done to help determine the prognosis and type of treatment a patient should receive. Doctors basically classify the cancer according to a staging system called the "TNM system" which describes the size of the tumor and the extent of cancer spread. The choice of treatment will largely depend on the stage of the cancer.