Lakshmi Devi Lakshmi Devi Asked 8 months ago

Can a dexa scan find cancer?

My doctor advised me to get a DEXA scan for my bone density, as I'm getting older. Recently, a friend was diagnosed with cancer after some routine tests. I'm just wondering if this type of scan can also show something serious like cancer.

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Karthik Iyer Karthik Iyer Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago
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Actually, a DEXA scan is primarily designed to check bone density and screen for osteoporosis. It is not used as a standard tool for detecting cancer. If you have specific health concerns, better to book a consultation with an oncologist or general physician to get the right diagnostic tests.

Harish Gupta Harish Gupta Joined Apr 2026 7 months ago

DEXA is mainly to check if bones are becoming weak or brittle. In diabetes, we sometimes monitor bone health because high sugar can affect bone density. But for cancer screening, this is not the right test at all, you need specific imaging done by an oncologist.

Riya Saxena Riya Saxena Joined May 2026 5 months ago

My grandmother had a DEXA scan recently just to check her bone strength because she was having knee pain. The doctor told us it doesn't spot things like cancer. If someone you know is worried about that, please speak to a physician who can suggest the correct screening.

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Consult a radiation oncologist

Aditya Verma Aditya Verma Joined May 2026 5 months ago

From what I've read while looking up bone health scans, DEXA is just for bone strength and fat percentage. It won't show cancer tumors. For cancer screening, doctors usually recommend MRI, CT scans, or specific biopsies depending on the symptoms.

Meena Joshi Meena Joshi Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

As far as I know, DEXA only measures how strong your bones are. Just like I do regular blood pressure checks and keep an eye on my daily routine, you should get routine medical screenings done. A regular doctor will know which scan is needed for cancer detection.

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Sanjay Kapoor Sanjay Kapoor Joined Jul 2026 3 months ago

We always consult specialists at major hospitals for our family's health. The doctors there clearly state that DEXA is purely for osteoporosis and bone health, not cancer. I highly recommend visiting a reputed hospital and asking a doctor directly about the proper screening protocols.

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