Your doctor may also refer you for blood tests such as:

• Complete blood count (CBC) measures the number of red, white, and other blood cells to ensure proper bone marrow function. It also gauges whether treatment is affecting blood cell counts.
• Serum chemistry test evaluates levels of electrolytes, such as calcium and potassium, and certain enzymes (proteins). Doing so shows how well various organs are functioning. Abnormal levels of these substances can mean that cancer has spread.
• Tumor marker tests check for certain proteins that skin cancer cells produce in the blood. We use these tests:
  • Before treatment to help diagnose skin cancer and see if it has spread elsewhere in the body
  • During treatment to assess its effectiveness

Published April 2018
Stanford Health Care © 2018