coughing up blood and so on. A "yes" answer to any of these questions leads to more detailed questions, more specific physical examinations and possibly to blood tests, x-rays or other studies.
You might also be asked questions about any family history of cancer, particularly among close relatives—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters. Detailed answers to these questions will help in the search for any cancers with a genetic basis, such as some breast and colon cancers.
Suspicious findings in any part of the physical examination will lead to further tests. An enlarged lymph node in the neck, for example, might indicate a cancer that has spread from somewhere else. This will set off a vigorous search for the primary site. Persistent coughing, especially with blood, might lead the doctor to look directly inside your lungs with a special instrument (a bronchoscope) to detect tumors ( see Bronchoscope ).
