Our bodies produce wastes—urine and stools—that can reveal clues about disease. But there are also other fluids that can be analyzed to detect cancer cells .
• The most familiar test of body fluids is the urinalysis that is part of a regular checkup. Analyzing the urine's
composition can reveal all kinds of abnormalities. The presence of protein might indicate kidney disease. The
level of sugar might indicate diabetes. Too many white blood cells can indicate an infection. Too many
red blood cells could indicate bleeding, maybe because of a tumor , maybe from some other cause. If tumor cells
are found, other tests will be done.
• A physical or x-ray examination may reveal the presence of fluid in the chest cavity, abdomen or joints. A
needle can be inserted into these areas and the fluid drawn out for examination.
• A lumbar puncture , also known as a spinal tap, is a special procedure to remove fluid from the spinal canal. It
involves the insertion of a needle between the vertebrae, after you've been given a local anesthetic. Tests can
identify any infection, inflammation or cancer.
The Hidden Blood Stool Test Blood in the stools is always a sign of something going wrong in the digestive tract. Sometimes this blood can be easily seen in a bowel movement; most of the time it's all but invisible. One simple procedure to find out whether there is blood in the stools is called the occult (hidden) blood test. A small amount of stool is smeared on specially treated paper, then chemicals that will reveal blood are added. If blood is found, the upper and/or lower bowel will be examined with scopes or barium x-rays.
