I've Just Been Diagnosed... What's Next?

Your doctor will order a series of tests that are designed to help determine the stage, or to what extent, the cancer may have spread.  This information will help your doctor decide whether surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of these treatments is appropriate for you.

Some of the tests you may need include:

• CT scans (computed tomography) of the brain, chest, abdomen and pelvis. 
• MRI scans (magnetic resonance imaging).
• Bone scans which include a radioisotope injected into a vein that then travels through the bloodstream and collects only in bone areas where tumor cells may lay hidden.
• PET scans (positron emission tomography) are special types of x-rays that may detect the spread of the cancer into other organ sites. 
• Blood tests may also be ordered to check your blood count or liver enzymes.