Diagnosis, investigations and tests

The main diagnostic tests that your doctor may recommend are:

 

Blood testing — Blood tests can be booked online on our main website. 

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy — During this test, a doctor or nurse takes a sample of bone marrow from your pelvis. The procedure takes around 30 minutes. You can read more about this procedure in our patient information leaflet.

 

CT scan - CT scans take pictures of your body. Discover more about CT scans.

CT PET scan – Positron emission tomography (PET) scans are used to produce detailed three-dimensional images of the inside of the body. The images can clearly show the part of the body being investigated, including any abnormal areas, and can highlight how well certain functions of the body are working. Learn more about PET scans.

MRI scan - MRI uses magnetism and radio waves to create a cross sectional picture of the body. You will have an MRI scan to see if your cancer has spread. The scan itself normally takes around 45 minutes to one hour. Find out more about MRI scans.