Cancer Diagnosis
An accurate cancer diagnosis is the first step toward timely, effective treatment. St. Joseph's Health Hospital has the experts and technology to make the right diagnosis, right away.
Cancer Testing Services at St. Joseph's Health Hospital: Why Choose Us?
Choosing a cancer program for your diagnosis and treatment is one of the most important decisions you'll make. People throughout Central New York turn to us for total cancer care because we offer the following:
- Easy access: St. Joseph's Health Hospital features imaging facilities, labs, and specialists throughout Syracuse and the surrounding areas. It's easy to get the cancer testing services you need.
- Second opinion: If you've received a primary care physician or oncologist diagnosis at another program, we can take a second look. With our extensive experience in treating many types of cancer, we can give you expert advice on your care plan.
- Collaborative team: Cancer specialists, pathologists, and other providers work together to ensure you get test results as quickly as possible. A timely diagnosis helps us make a cancer treatment plan sooner.
How Is Cancer Diagnosed?
We excel in the latest diagnostic techniques to detect and stage cancer. Staging cancer means categorizing the size of the tumor and determining if the cancer has spread (metastasized).
Endoscopy
We offer advanced endoscopy services for detecting and sometimes treating precancer and cancer. Using a thin tube with a light and camera (endoscope), we examine the digestive tract, stomach, uterus, and other areas of the body in detail. Board-certified interventional endoscopists use the innovative SpyGlass™ DS Direct Visualization System to diagnose hepatobiliary cancers.
Blood tests
We may use blood tests to determine your risk for certain cancers. If you have a strong family history of cancer or are at an increased risk due to lifestyle factors or other health conditions, we may do blood tests to check for cancer tumor markers.
Tumor markers are substances found in the blood that can indicate cancer. CA-125 and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests are two of the most common tumor marker blood tests.
Biopsy
If a screening or diagnostic test indicates that you have cancer, we may do a biopsy. During this procedure, we take a small tissue sample from the body. Pathologists examine the tissue to learn more about the type and stage of cancer. We specialize in performing minimally invasive biopsies, such as fine needle aspiration, that only require light sedation.
Genetic Testing and Counseling
We may recommend a genetic risk assessment for people with a family history of inheritable cancers such as breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancer. We evaluate blood and tissue samples to check for gene mutations. You can also discuss family planning and cancer prevention with a genetic counselor.