Can docs tell if u have skin cancer by a blood test?

[justasking]

Can docs tell if u have skin cancer by a blood test?

[TheTemptress]

good question, ive often wondered because its a constant worry to me! interesting to see the replies.

[dot.hawkes]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/739259.stm
i think that may be an initial way of perhaps requesting other tests but it doesn't seem like the most obvious.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/739259.stm

[dot.hawkes]

i posted that link twice on purpose to make you definately look at it justasking lol

[justasking]

lol thanks

[cgh31]

hi - I don't think so. There are some blood tests available through your GP to look for certain cancers e.g. prostate cancer. These involve looking for certain 'tumour makers' that are released into the bloodstream. They tend to be rather non specific though - some people can have raised levels and not have cancer. They should really only be used for monitoring existing patients rather than definitively diagnosing a person. Like anything in medicine, a diagnosis should be made taking a number of factors and tests into consideration and not relying on something as rudimentary as a single blood test.