Cancer scans can help doctors look inside your body and better understand your cancer. But these scans cannot directly see cancer cells, as they create images based on changes in your body. Sometimes, these images can give misleading results for cancer when it actually is something different. This is why a thorough investigation is necessary.
Can cancer scans go wrong?
While cancer scans are crucial to understand your cancer better, they are still not perfect. There are times when your scans can give you false positive results, even when the cancer is not present. You can have some symptoms that look like cancer, but not all symptoms are necessarily cancer. Such symptoms can happen due to an infection or a short-term inflammation. But sometimes, scans may also produce false-negative results. Some small tumors or those whose location is difficult to identify can be missed during the scans, which can delay your treatment. This is why doctors may investigate your medical history and may perform some other tests along with scans for accurate detection.
Why cannot scans be fully accurate?
There is no single reason why scans cannot give you accurate results. Many different factors can affect how cancer scans can show up.
Inflammation or infection can appear as cancer
Tiny microtumors can go undetected
Scarred tissues can appear as cancerous tissues
Recent medical procedures can also change the appearance of tissues
How do doctors confirm the diagnosis?
Doctors don’t just rely on your scan to confirm the diagnosis. They may perform some other tests to get an accurate diagnosis. A biopsy can be performed, where some tissues of your tumor can be taken for examination. Doctors may also review your medical history or any other physical procedures you have ever performed. They usually do this to assess your condition so they can plan a personalized treatment plan that best suits your condition.
What happens if the scans are unclear?
An unclear scan does not mean that you have cancer or that your current treatment has failed. Doctors may suggest that you repeat your scans after a few weeks from your previous scan to see if anything changes. Doctors can also perform some other additional tests, like blood tests, so that they can take quick action if anything serious happens. These tests can help them make an accurate diagnosis and ensure your safety is prioritized.
More than just scans
Cancer scans are considered standard for cancer detection, but these are also tools and can produce misleading results. By having an open conversation with your doctors, you can understand your condition better than just completely relying on your scans. With the right approach, you can receive an accurate diagnosis and get the treatment you deserve.