Your doctor may recommend a number of tests before and during and after cancer treatment.  As  a general rule test should only be performed if the result will change the management of the patient. Test are performed for the following reasons:-

 Before treatment

• Find out if patients have cancer
• Assess the extent of disease
• Assess damage to other organs
• Assess function of organs and fitness for treatment

During treatment

• Assess whether treatment is working
• To investigate new symptoms
• Assess function of organs and fitness to continue treatment

After treatment

• To assess whether cancer remains in remission
• To investigate new symptoms

Further general information Your doctors and specialist nurses are in an ideal position to give you relevant information on your disease and treatment as they know your individual circumstances. Cancerbackup has a help line (0808 800 1234) and a prize winning video available in English, Italian, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati & Hindi explaining Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy. Cancernet.co.uk has over 500 pages describing cancer, its management, practical tips and tool which patients, their carers and their doctors have found helpful during the cancer journey.