No one test exists that can accurately provide a cancer diagnosis. To fully evaluate a patient, the cancer professionals typically require a complete history and physical examination along with diagnostic testing. Numerous tests are needed to determine whether a person has cancer, or if another condition (such as an infection) is perceived as the symptoms of cancer.

 Effectual diagnostic testing is used to verify or eradicate the presence of disease, observe the disease process, and to plan for and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. In some cases, it is compulsory to repeat testing when a person’s condition has changed if a sample collected was not of good quality, or an abnormal test result needs to be confirmed. Diagnostic procedures for cancer may include imaging, laboratory tests, tumor biopsy, endoscopic examination, surgery, or genetic testing.