This can show clear pictures of the pancreas and the area around it to see if the cancer has spread. There are different ways to do biopsies so ask your doctor which type of biopsy you will have.ĬT or CAT scan: This test uses x-rays to make pictures of your insides.
A biopsy is the only way to tell for sure if you have cancer. Here are some of the tests you may need:īiopsy: The doctor takes out a little bit of tissue or some cells to check for cancer. It can be hard to find pancreatic cancer early because the pancreas is deep inside the body, making it hard for the doctor to feel something wrong if the cancer is still small. If signs are pointing to pancreatic cancer, more tests will be done. The doctor will ask questions about your health and do a physical exam. They are often not found until they cause problems that make a person seek help from a doctor. Most of the time, early pancreatic cancers don’t cause any signs or symptoms. How does the doctor know I have pancreatic cancer?
Would you please write down the kind of cancer you think I might have?.So even if a pancreatic cancer spreads to your liver, for example, it is still called a pancreatic cancer, not liver cancer. But the type of cancer is based on the type of cells it started from. When cancer does this, it's called metastasis. Pancreatic cancer can spread to other parts of the body. Ask your doctor to use this picture to show you where your cancer is located.