If your doctor thinks you may have pancreatic cancer, you will need some tests to confirm the diagnosis. These may include blood tests, imaging scans, endoscopic tests and tissue sampling (biopsy).
The tests you have will depend on the symptoms, type and stage of pancreatic cancer. You will not have all the tests described in this section.
Learn more about:
- Tests
- Staging and prognosis
- Your health care team
- What can you expect after diagnosis?
- Video: Cancer and common diagnostic tests
| For an overview of what to expect during all stages of your cancer care, visit Cancer Pathway – Pancreatic Cancer. This is a short guide to what is recommended, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond. |
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Video: Cancer and common diagnostic tests
Dr Lorraine Chantrill, Head of Department, Medical Oncology, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, NSW; Marion Bamblett, Nurse Unit Manager, Cancer Centre, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA; Prof Katherine Clark, Clinical Director of Palliative Care, Northern Sydney Local Health District Cancer and Palliative Care Network, and Conjoint Professor, Northern Clinical School, The University of Sydney, NSW; Lynda Dunstone, Consumer; Kate Graham, Accredited Practising Dietitian – Upper GI Dietitian, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Gina Hesselberg, Radiation Oncologist, St George Hospital Cancer Centre, NSW; Dr Marni Nenke, Endocrinologist and Mary Overton Early Career Research Fellow, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; A/Prof Nicholas O’Rourke, Head of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Royal Brisbane Hospital and The University of Queensland, QLD; Rose Rocca, Senior Clinical Dietitian – Upper GI, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Gail Smith, Consumer. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
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