Pathology

Both pathology and the laboratory play important roles in planning and delivering your cancer care. This is true for both your diagnosis and individualized treatment. Pathology and laboratory are also involved in follow-up tests to check the effectiveness of your treatment and check your tissue and/or blood samples for any remaining cancer as treatment progresses.

The pathologist's role in cancer diagnosis and care

A pathologist is a physician who specializes in diagnosing and describing disease by closely examining samples of your organs, tissue, blood or body fluids.

Pathologists are some of the star players of your cancer care team. They work to diagnose and determine the stage of your cancer, indicating what the next steps in your treatment may be.

A cancer diagnosis usually starts with symptoms your primary care provider suspects may be cancer. A small tissue sample (biopsy) is often taken by a doctor and sent to the pathologist, who analyzes it and describes what it is. This vital step helps your physician choose appropriate treatment customized for your unique situation.

Your pathologist’s initial cancer diagnosis will include:

• Exactly what type it is
• What its particular features are
• Your prognosis

As your cancer treatment progresses, this testing and analysis may be repeated to check if your treatment plan is working.